An additional perk for those thinking about enrolling in Northern Essex or another in-state community college was unveiled on Wednesday: the opportunity to win a $5,000 annual scholarship.
According to the University of Massachusetts, if they enroll at one of the four UMass campuses, the top 10% of the state’s future community college graduates will get at least $5,000 in addition to federal and private financial aid.
“We want to send a clear message that UMass welcomes highly talented community college graduates to continue their pursuit of a college degree on our nationally ranked Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell campuses,” UMass President Marty Meehan said. “We believe this initiative will lead to more community college graduates choosing to finish their four-year degree at UMass, which will accelerate their upward economic trajectory and strengthen the Commonwealth’s workforce.”
The goal of the Community College Advantage Scholarship is to persuade exceptionally gifted individuals enrolled in one of the 15 community colleges to complete their associate’s degrees before continuing on to UMass for their bachelor’s.
Additionally, according to officials, it’s intended to strengthen the talent pipeline and offer “equitable access to historically underrepresented groups of students in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on race-based admissions,” as the state’s high school graduation rate is expected to decline in the coming years due to aging populations and the exodus of young people.
The Community College Advantage Scholarship will guarantee admission to a University of Massachusetts campus for students in the top 10% of their community college graduating class starting in Fall 2024. It will also provide a minimum of $2,500 per semester for a total of at least $10,000 for the students’ final two years of college.
Students remain eligible for additional aid based on individual circumstances.
