John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

What is the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship?
- It’s a merit-based scholarship that provides a tuition credit for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study at a Massachusetts state college or university. Merit is determined by a student’s performance on the grade 10 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).

Why this scholarship exists
- Reward and encourage academic achievement.
- Attract high-performing students to Massachusetts public higher education.
- Give families tangible financial help as students enter college.

Who needs to know the difference in rules
- There are slightly different MCAS requirements depending on your graduating class. The key difference is whether you’re in the class of 2016 or later, or the class of 2015 or earlier.

MCAS requirements (class of 2016 and after)
- You must take three high-school-level state assessment tests in:
- English Language Arts (ELA),
- Mathematics, and
- STE (one of Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, or Technology/Engineering).
- Score Advanced on at least one of those three tests.
- Score Proficient or Advanced on the other two tests.
- Your combined MCAS scores on those assessments must rank in the top 25% within your school district.

MCAS requirements (class of 2015 and earlier)
- Score Advanced on either Mathematics or ELA, and Proficient or Advanced on the other (Math or ELA).
- Your combined MCAS scores for those sections must rank in the top 25% in your school district.

Other eligibility requirements (all applicants)
- U.S. citizen or a non-citizen authorized by the federal government to live and work in the U.S.
- Enrolled full time (minimum 12 credits or equivalent) in an eligible certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s program at an eligible Massachusetts public institution.
- Do not already have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent).
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Comply with Selective Service registration requirements (if applicable).
- Not in default on federal or state student loans and not owe a refund for previous financial aid.

Quick tips
- If you’re unsure which MCAS tests count for STE, check with your school counselor (Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, or Technology/Engineering are the STE options).
- Keep copies of your MCAS results and FAFSA confirmation — schools will need documentation.
- Ask your high school guidance office or the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend if you have questions about eligibility or how the award will be applied to your account.

In short: strong 10th-grade MCAS results, meeting the district top-25% rule, and the standard student-aid and enrollment requirements are the essentials for qualifying. If you want, tell me your class year and which MCAS scores you have and I can help you check eligibility.