Boston Scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Wentworth Boston Scholarship Commitment?

  The Wentworth Boston Scholarship Commitment is a new program that will award full tuition and comprehensive fee coverage to a minimum of 10 students from the City of Boston each year. It reflects Wentworth's partnership with the city, which dates to the university's founding in 1904.

• Why is Wentworth creating this program?

  Wentworth has been part of Boston for more than 120 years, and the university is committed to ensuring that students who grow up in the city recognize Wentworth as an accessible and compelling higher-education opportunity. The program is designed to remove both the real and perceived financial barriers that may prevent talented Boston students from pursuing a private education.

• How many scholarships will be awarded?

  Wentworth will award a minimum of 10 full-tuition scholarships each year. The university may award more in a given year depending on the pool of eligible candidates. 

• Is this a one-time program or an ongoing commitment?

  The program is an ongoing annual commitment. Wentworth will award a minimum of 10 full-tuition scholarships every year.

• Who is eligible?

  Students are eligible if they meet one of the following criteria: they graduate from a Boston Public Schools (BPS) high school; they graduate from a charter school or private high school located in Boston; or they are verified, full-time Boston residents who attend high school outside the city, including students in the METCO program.

• What else do students need to do to qualify?

  Students must be admitted to Wentworth, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the deadline for their application round, and be eligible to receive federal financial aid. After an initial review, the Wentworth Scholarship Committee will invite selected students to submit a short supplemental essay affirming their interest in Wentworth.

• Do students need to live in Boston if they attend a BPS, charter, or private school in the city?

  The program is open to graduates of Boston Public Schools (BPS), charter schools, or private high schools located in the city, as well as verified, full-time Boston residents who attend high school outside the city. Students must be admitted to Wentworth, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and be eligible to receive federal financial aid. 

• How is Boston residency verified for students who attend high school outside the city?

  Residency eligibility will be verified via the student’s completed Common Application, supporting materials submitted by the high school, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• Are transfer students eligible?

  Not at this time. The scholarship is currently open to students entering Wentworth as first-year students.

• Is there a minimum GPA or academic requirement?

  There is no set minimum GPA requirement. The Wentworth Scholarship Committee will review all eligible admitted students and invite selected students to submit a short supplemental essay. Recipients are chosen based on the rigor of their high school curriculum, their grades, and their supplemental essay.

• Does family income affect eligibility?

  There is no family income limit. Students must submit the FAFSA and be eligible to receive federal financial aid. Every recipient’s tuition and required comprehensive fee are covered in full, regardless of family income.

Applying & Selection

• How do students apply?

  There is no separate scholarship application at the start of the process. Students apply for admission to Wentworth and submit the FAFSA by the deadline for their application round. After admission, the Wentworth Scholarship Committee will invite selected students to submit a short supplemental essay affirming their interest in attending Wentworth and explaining how the scholarship would support their academic and professional goals.

• What are the deadlines?

  Application Deadlines:

  Early Decision (ED)
  Apply by November 1
  FAFSA by November 1

  Early Action 1 (EA1)
  Apply by November 15
  FAFSA by November 15

  Early Action 2 (EA2)
  Apply by January 1
  FAFSA by January 15

  Regular Decision (RD)
  Apply by February 1
  FAFSA by February 15

   

• How are recipients selected if more than 10 eligible students apply?

  The Wentworth Scholarship Committee reviews eligible admitted students and invites selected students to submit a short supplemental essay. The committee then selects recipients based on the rigor of their high school curriculum, their grades, and their essay. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.

• When will students learn whether they received a scholarship?

  Wentworth will begin notifying recipients on a rolling basis no later than March 1.

What the Scholarship Covers

• What does "full tuition" include?

  The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and Wentworth’s required comprehensive fee. 
   

• Is the scholarship renewable?

  The scholarship is renewed every year a student attends Wentworth, provided they remain enrolled full time and maintain good academic and disciplinary standing as defined by the academic catalog and student handbook. Students must also meet Wentworth’s Satisfactory Academic Progress standards for financial aid. The scholarship commitment will cover tuition and the comprehensive fee for a maximum of eight semesters of full-time enrollment. Students requiring more than eight semesters to complete their degrees will be reviewed and considered on a case by case basis, knowing our ultimate goal is to see students successfully complete their degree. 

• Does the scholarship cover co-op semesters?

  Students do not pay tuition and fees for co-op semesters.

• Can students combine this scholarship with other financial aid?

  Yes. Every recipient’s tuition and required comprehensive fee are covered in full. For students who qualify for federal or state grants, such as the Pell Grant or MASSGrant, those grants are applied to tuition and fees first, and Wentworth covers the remaining balance. For students who live on campus, a portion of those grants may be applied to housing costs instead. This approach allows Wentworth to extend full-tuition awards to more Boston students each year.

• Do recipients need to live on campus?

  Recipients who wish to live at home and commute may request an exemption from Wentworth’s first- and second-year housing requirement. For recipients who live on campus, federal or state grants may be applied to housing costs. In either case, the scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and the required comprehensive fee.