Scholarships & Grants
There are many ways to fund your education at HCC. Institutional grants, access grants, talent grants, and scholarships are all money for your education that you don't have to pay back.
Holyoke Community College Foundation Scholarships
Each year, the Holyoke Community College Foundation, a non-profit organization, disburses more than $200,000 in scholarship awards to HCC students. Applications for the next scholarship cycle are expected to be posted online here starting in early February. Applicants are considered for a variety of scholarships; the foundation scholarship committee reviews the applications and decides which scholarship best suits each applicant. Get all the information on our Scholarships page.
Institutional Grant
These grants are normally limited to direct educational costs, including tuition, fees, and books.
HCC Educational Access Grant
Awards normally range from $150 to $300.
HCC Scholarship
Awarded by the Scholarships and Awards Committee to needy students who have successfully completed at least 12 semester hours at HCC.
MASSGrant
Awards range from $700 to $1,500 per year, depending on need. To be eligible, the FAFSA must be completed by May 1, 2022 for the 2022-3 school year. This grant is for full-time students only. Students with BA degrees or higher are not eligible.
Financial Aid Tuition Waiver
Tuition waivers reduce tuition charges and can be up to the full amount of in-state tuition. The waiver is for resident tuition only. Students with BA degrees or higher are not eligible.
Access Grant
Awards cannot exceed tuition and fees. Students with BA degrees or higher are not eligible.
MASSGrant Plus
Awards vary depending on student need (gap) to meet tuition/fee costs. Note that MASSGrant Plus awards are made after a student's EFC has been calculated. To be eligible, the FAFSA must be completed by November 1, 2022. Available to students taking 6 credits or more per semester.
Note: Links to sources of financial aid from other states can be found here.
Pell Grant
Pell awards for 2022-23 range from $8,370 a year for full-time (12 credits or more); $6,278 for three-quarter time (9-11 credits); $4,185 for half-time (6-8 credits); and $2,093 for less than half-time (1-5 credits). Students with BA degrees or higher are not eligible. Pell Grants are restricted to a lifetime limit of 12 full-time semesters.
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
These grants normally do not exceed $200 per year at HCC. Preference is given to students who are enrolled at least half-time (six credits or more) and are eligible for Pell Grants, with $0 expected family contribution. Students with BA degrees or higher are not eligible.
