Scholarships
Scholarships come in two different forms: need-based, which are determined around your family’s financial situation, and merit-based, which are awarded for your academic performance, extracurricular involvement, community service, and more.
Need-based Scholarships
These awards are made based on your financial need and are awarded through the Student Aid & Financial Literacy. If students currently receiving need-based scholarships continue to demonstrate a similar level of financial need and pass at least 11 academic courses per year (academic courses are defined as classes worth one third of a WPI academic unit), their award will be renewed at the same level.*
Students apply for all need-based financial aid by filing the FAFSA and the CSS PROFILE Application.
*Merit- and need-based scholarships are not increased from year to year.
Merit-based Scholarships
WPI offers academic scholarships to first-year applicants based upon academic performance, standardized test scores, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and community service. This funding is awarded by the Undergraduate Admissions Office and is incorporated into any need-based financial aid for which you may qualify. These merit-based scholarships vary in amounts and are renewable for four years. IB diploma graduates with a diploma score of 40 or greater admitted to WPI are guaranteed a minimum scholarship of $20,000.
All admitted applicants are considered for merit-based scholarships and there is no separate application required. Recipients of the WPI Employee Tuition Benefit are not eligible to receive WPI academic merit-based scholarships.
Federal Grants
The U.S. Department of Education offers a variety of federal grants to students attending four-year colleges or universities, community colleges, and career schools. Almost all are awarded to students with demonstrated financial need. Federal grants include:
- The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain graduate students.
- The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) provides assistance to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need.
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain graduate students. Grant amounts are dependent on: the student's expected family contribution (EFC), the cost of attendance, your enrollment status (full-time or part-time), and whether you attend for a full academic year or less. You may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.
Federal SEOG
The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) provides assistance to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. The federal government funds the SEOG with a matching contribution from WPI. In keeping with federal regulations, priority is given to students with the lowest expected family contribution (and the greatest financial need) and to Pell Grant recipients.
State Scholarships & Grants
State-sponsored scholarships and grants are awarded directly by WPI or by the specific state-based program. These grants and scholarships may be based on the student’s financial need or high school academic performance.
Massachusetts Gilbert Grant
The Massachusetts Gilbert Matching Student Grant Program (GMSGP) is funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and offered by WPI to residents of the state. To qualify for GMSGP, students must be undergraduates and meet financial need and other eligibility requirements. Awards range from $200 to $2500 per academic year.
Other State Scholarships & Grants
Several states, including Massachusetts, offer educational grant money to eligible college students. Review the state grant programs that have reciprocal agreements with Massachusetts. Application deadlines and other important information are also included.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
WPI Tuition Exchange Program
Through the Tuition Exchange (TE) program, the child of an employee of one of more than 600 participating institutions may qualify for a scholarship to attend WPI, and vice versa.
- TE Imports (PDF) are prospective and current WPI students whose parents work at a Tuition Exchange institution who are interested in applying for a Tuition Exchange Scholarship at WPI.
- TE Exports (PDF) are dependent children of WPI employees who wish to apply for a Tuition Exchange Scholarship at one of the TE member institutions.
- WPI employees wishing to apply for the Tuition Exchange program for the 2020-2021 academic year need to complete and return the WPI Tuition Exchange (TE) Application (PDF) to the WPI Office of Student Aid & Financial Literacy no later than Friday September 27, 2019
For questions, or to learn more contact WPI's Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer Bridget Nault at 508-831-5469.
WPI Tuition Benefits Program
WPI’s Tuition Benefits Program provides tuition assistance for eligible family members of WPI employees, whether they are attending WPI or another institution.
WPI Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program allows institutions of higher learning (degree-granting colleges and universities) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. Participating schools can waive up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution.
The WPI Office of Financial Aid is pleased to announce our participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program of the Post 9/11 Veterans’ Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a partnership between WPI and the Veterans’ Administration (VA) to assist eligible students with educational expenses. For the 2019-2020 academic year, WPI will award 10 WPI Yellow Ribbon Scholarships to undergraduate students and two (2) WPI Yellow Ribbon Scholarships to graduate students on a first-come, first-served basis.
To Apply:
- Obtain your Yellow Ribbon Certificate of Eligibility from the Veteran’s Administration by contacting the VA at 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551) or online. Upon completion of the application, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility advising you if your service meets the requirements for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Complete the Undergraduate Yellow Ribbon Application (PDF) or Graduate Yellow Ribbon Application (PDF) and mail it into the WPI Office of Student Aid & Financial Literacy with your Yellow Ribbon Certificate of Eligibility to WPI Office of Student Aid & Financial Literacy, Bartlett Center, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA 01609
- Once applications are received and reviewed, students will be contacted in writing by the WPI Office of Student Aid & Financial Literacy.
The Fine Print:
- WPI will contribute up to $5,000 per undergraduate student per year (Fall and Spring semesters only) and up to $10,000, per graduate student per year (Fall and Spring semesters only) which will be matched by the Veterans Administration. WPI Yellow Ribbon Scholarship funds cannot be used during term E (summer).
- Only students entitled to the maximum benefit rate, based on service requirements, may receive this funding.
- Once selected, undergraduate students will be confirmed as a Yellow Ribbon Program participant for the shorter of the two following periods; 16 terms (4 years) of enrollment at WPI or completion of student’s Bachelor Degree requirements as long as WPI continues to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program and VA education benefits still apply.
- Once selected, graduate students will be confirmed as a Yellow Ribbon Program participant for the shorter of the two following periods; 8 semesters (4 years) of enrollment at WPI or completion of student’s Master or Ph.D degree requirements as long as WPI continues to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program and VA education benefits still apply.
- Students awarded a WPI Yellow Ribbon Scholarship must remain continuously enrolled with no leaves of absence.
- Students awarded a WPI Yellow Ribbon Scholarship must maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by WPI.
- Students on active duty are not eligible to receive Yellow Ribbon benefits.
ROTC
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) offers scholarships to qualifying WPI students who pursue careers in the United States Air Force, Army, or Navy. For more information on the different types of ROTC programs offered at WPI please visit:
- Air Force Aerospace Studies
- Military Science / US Army ROTC
- Naval Science ROTC (based at Holy Cross College)
SAGE Scholars Tuition Rewards Program
The SAGE Scholars Tuition Rewards program is a private college saving plan like no other. By enrolling in Tuition Rewards, students will earn guaranteed minimum scholarships at over 345 participating private colleges and universities across America!
Tuition Reward Points accrue like frequent flyer miles and are typically earned by saving or investing with affiliated financial institutions or organizations. Each Tuition Reward Point is equal to $1.00 in tuition discounts if the student attends a participating college or university. The accumulated points represent the minimum scholarship (grant or other institutional discount) that the student will receive.
At WPI SAGE Tuition Reward Dollars earned through participation in the program are incorporated into any need and/or merit-based scholarship funds offered to prospective, undergraduate, first year students. Additionally, participants of the SAGE Scholars Tuition Rewards Program receiving a merit scholarship adhere to the same scholarship renewal criteria as other WPI need and/or merit-based scholarships.
To qualify for the WPI SAGE Scholars Tuition Rewards Program as a prospective, undergraduate, first year student, you must submit your SAGE Tuition Reward Statement to WPI by the application deadline of November 1 for Early Action Round 1 applicants, January 1 for Early Action Round 2 applicants, or February 1 for Regular Decision applicants.