Financial Aid 101
Many students dream of an East Coast education, with Massachusetts being among the most sought-after states (Boston alone boasts 35 schools!). Imagine strolling by ivy-covered buildings, spending rainy days in the library, and cheering on the team at fall football games.
If it sounds like a scene from a movie, it’s because you have indeed seen it captured on-screen a gazillion times. It’s that iconic!
Granted, this type of education can require a lot of work and a significant financial commitment. But for students considering—or already enrolled in—a Massachusetts institution, there are many funding options worth considering that can help make your degree more affordable.
Here, we’ll share the scoop on scholarships for Massachusetts students and state-specific loans, as well as Massachusetts student loan forgiveness programs worth investigating if you’ve already graduated.
If you decide to head to Massachusetts to pursue a degree and need some financial assistance, you’ll be in good company. In 2020, 56% of Massachusetts college attendees had student loan debt, and on average owed $33,457.
We’ll share tips about managing your debt below.
of Massachusetts college
attendees had
student loan debt
If your goal is to attend school in Massachusetts and you’re looking at ways to finance your education, you have options. And both federal and private student loans may be worth considering when researching how to pay for your college degree.
Federal student loans are all provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. If you take out a federal loan, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender.
To see which type of loan you may qualify for, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for financial aid for college or grad school. You can review your state’s deadline and the federal FAFSA deadline here.
You should also review the deadlines for each college to which you are applying, as one college may define their deadline as the date you submit your FAFSA form, while another considers it to be the date on which your FAFSA is actually processed. FAFSA will then offer you a financial aid package, dependent on your college, that may include grants, work-study opportunities, and federal student loan options. It is important to note that not every student will qualify to receive federal aid.
There are four types of Direct Loans available:
Direct Subsidized Loans: These are for eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, and they help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school. The federal government pays the interest on Direct Subsidized Loans while a student is in school at least half-time. Interest starts accruing on these loans after a six-month grace period once students graduate or if they drop below half-time enrollment.
Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students may qualify for these loans. Eligibility is not based on financial need. The interest on these loans begins accruing immediately after funds are disbursed (meaning paid out).
Direct PLUS Loans: These loans are for graduate or professional students, as well as for parents of dependent undergraduate students who need help paying for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility for this loan is not based on financial need, but it does require a credit check.
Direct Consolidation Loans: As the name implies, this type of federal loan combines all of your eligible federal student loans into a single loan, with one loan payment. Students generally use this loan if they have taken out multiple federal loans and want to combine them for simplified repayment. The interest rate on these loans are the weighted average of the interest rates on all of the loans that a student is consolidating, rounded to the nearest one-eighth of 1%.
NOTE: All federal student loans have fixed interest rates, and they generally have lower interest rates than private loans.
Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress. A key point to note: Private lenders follow a different set of regulations than federal loans, so their interest rates can vary widely.
What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school. On the other hand, you don’t have to start paying back federal student loans until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.
Unlike federal loans which can only be applied for within certain deadlines (once a year, and states have their own deadlines), private loans can be applied for on an as-needed basis. Even if you suspect you may need to take out a private loan, it’s still a smart move to submit your FAFSA before applying. That way, you can see what federal aid you may qualify for first.
If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline and you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your education payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.
Who doesn’t love a gift? You may sometimes hear grants and scholarships referred to as “gift aid.” That’s because while grants or scholarships may have certain academic or other requirements to keep them, you usually don’t have to pay them back as you would with a loan. Whether you call that a gift, a windfall, or free money, it’s a huge help when it comes time to pay for higher education.
There are a few instances where you may have to pay back grant money, but typically only if certain requirements aren’t met. Generally, grants are need-based (meaning they are distributed due to your financial need), while scholarships are awarded based on merit (such as academic, athletic, or artistic achievement).
There is no one-size-fits-all grant or scholarship amount or requirements, and both scholarships and grants can come from a variety of entities (including private organizations and federal or state governments).
Some scholarships or grants can be for a small amount that may help you pay for your books or research supplies, but others can cover the entire cost of your education. That means tuition, room and board, and the extras. Which is a very good thing. Who knew parking passes could be so expensive?
If you’re planning to attend school in Massachusetts and are looking for scholarships and grants—you are in luck! There are dedicated Massachusetts scholarships that you can apply for, as well as Massachusetts school grants worth considering. Check out some of these options before paying for all of your education on your own.
The MassGrant is a need-based financial assistance program that helps undergraduate students living in Massachusetts. In order to qualify, a student must be enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education at an approved institution. Both full-time and part-time students can qualify for assistance with the cost of tuition and fees. There isn’t a set amount of assistance; awards are determined by an indexing system and may not exceed a student’s demonstrated financial aid need.
This grant helps students with financial need by awarding grant money to help cover costs like fees and non-state supported tuition as a complementary program to the Need-Based Tuition Waiver Program. Award amounts can not exceed the combined cost of both institutional tuition and fees during the award period.
This is a scholarship for students with financial need who also live in rural areas of Massachusetts; the actual award amount varies. Recipients must also attend public institutions of higher education on a full-time basis within Massachusetts.
This scholarship program was designed with the purpose of increasing the teacher and care provider workforce. The scholarship provides financial assistance to employed early childhood and out of school time educators and providers that are enrolled in qualifying programs in inclusive settings, such as infant/toddler, preschool, and school-age programs. Awards vary depending on the applicant’s school and how many credits are being pursued; the range for the 2021-2022 academic year was between $2,250 and $4,500 per semester.
This grant is a resource for students who’ve lost a parent or spouse (missing or killed) in the line of public service duty in the state of Massachusetts. This award is not granted based on financial need. For a student attending a Massachusetts public college or university, the award covers full-time annual tuition charges. For a student attending a Massachusetts independent college or university, the award equals the full-time tuition charge at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
The GEAR UP State Grant is designed to help students who participated in a component of the GEAR UP Massachusetts Early Intervention initiative. The maximum award amount of this scholarship for each academic year can be no less than minimum Pell grant amounts.
Massachusetts residents can take advantage of the Massachusetts No Interest Loan Program to assist with funding their post-secondary education. Financially needy students may qualify for a zero-interest loan to assist with educational costs and will have 10 years to repay the loan.
Out of the 50 states, Massachusetts ranks 22nd in total financial aid dollars and spends $146 million on aid. Let’s take a closer look at how that aid is distributed.
| Need-Based Grants | Total Student Aid | State Average Spending Per Undergraduate Student |
|---|---|---|
| $100.1M | $146M | $342 |
If you’ve taken out student loans to attend a school in Massachusetts, it is never too early to start thinking about your repayment plan. And guess what? You have quite a few repayment options at your disposal.
Take a deep breath—you’ll have time to pay off your loans once you leave school. The standard student loan repayment term is 10 years, but allowances are made for eligible loan borrowers who need more time to pay off their loans (up to 25 years).
Federal student loan interest rates vary based on what year you receive the loan.
For the 2023-2024 school year, the interest rate on Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loans for undergraduates is 5.50%, the rate on Direct Unsubsidized loans for graduate and professional students is 7.05%, and the rate on Direct PLUS loans for graduate students, professional students, and parents is 8.05%. The interest rates on federal student loans are fixed and are set annually by Congress.
For private loans, terms and conditions such as interest rates are set by the lender and vary due to many factors. Federal student loans typically offer the lowest interest rates and more flexible repayment options as compared to private student loans.
Standard federal student
loan repayment term.
Allowances can be
made for borrowers.
Up to 25 years.
Just like there are several types of loans to explore, there are also different kinds of repayment plans. You can learn more about your repayment options for federal student loans here, but the following high-level summaries can give you an idea of which repayment plan may work for you.
Most borrowers are eligible for this plan and may often pay less over time than with other plans because the loan term is shorter. (Typically, less interest accrues over shorter loan terms than longer ones if payments are made in full and on-time.) There is a 10-year repayment period with this plan.
Most borrowers are eligible for this plan, which allows them to pay their loans off over a longer period than the Standard Repayment Plan. Payments start relatively low, then increase over time (usually every two years).
To qualify for this plan, there are income thresholds for certain loan types to qualify, and you won’t qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) if you choose this loan. Monthly payments are typically lower than under the 10-year Standard Plan or the Graduated Repayment Plan. Borrowers may also have a longer period to pay them off (and therefore make more interest payments).
Direct Loan borrowers (and all Consolidation Loan borrowers) with eligible loan types may be able to choose this plan. Monthly payments are 10% of discretionary income, and any remaining loan balance will be forgiven after 20 years (for undergraduate studies) or 25 years (for graduate or professional studies).
To qualify for this plan, borrowers must have a higher debt relative to their discretionary income. Payments for this plan are capped at 10% of discretionary income (and never more than what would be paid on the Standard Repayment Plan. In addition, any remaining balance will be forgiven after 20 years.
IBR is designed for borrowers who have a high debt relative to their income in order to qualify. Monthly payments will not usually be higher than the 10-year Standard Plan amount. Generally, however, borrowers may pay more over time than under the Standard Plan.
Direct Loan borrowers with an eligible loan type may want to consider ICR. This plan is different from IBR because there is no financial hardship requirement. But, it may cost more over time when compared to the 10-year Standard Repayment Plan, and any remaining balance will be forgiven after 25 years.
Borrowers can expect to pay more over time than under the 10-year Standard Plan. Monthly payments are based on annual income, but loans will be paid in full within 15 years. This repayment plan is only available for FFEL Program loans, which are not eligible for PSLF.
For more information on repayment plans, check out our Student Loan Repayment Options article to help add some clarity.
Granted, it’s not always easy to pay loans back on time. When it comes to student loan default, 10% to 20% of student loans are typically in default. (Of course, this was not the case during the pandemic-related federal student loan payment pause that began in March 2020.) You can go to the US Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid page to find the default rate for your specific education institution. To help you avoid being among those who default on your student loans, let’s take a look at refinancing options.
Another option to potentially help accelerate student loan repayment is to refinance your student loans with a private lender. Some private lenders, like SoFi, will let you consolidate and refinance both your federal and private student loans into one loan and a single interest rate. It’s a great way to streamline your bill paying and financial life in general.
Consolidating your loans (aka combining them) under one lender gives you the opportunity to refinance your loan and get a new term and interest rate. If you have an improved financial profile compared to when you took out your original loan, you may be able to lower your interest rate when you refinance, or even shorten your term to pay off your loan more quickly!
But, it is important to remember that if you refinance federal student loans with a private lender, you will lose access to federal programs such as the income-driven repayment plans mentioned above, as well as student loan forgiveness and forbearance options.
At first glance, student loan forgiveness looks appealing, but it may not be as easily attainable as one might think. For example, 98% of those who applied to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program were denied due to issues such as not meeting the program requirements or mistakes made on their forms.
That being said, there are state-specific and federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs that certain student loan borrowers may be eligible for.
Before you review your options, it’s important to know that the terms forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge essentially mean the same thing when it comes to federal student loans, but are applied in different scenarios. For example, if you are no longer required to make loan payments due to your job, that could fall under forgiveness or cancellation.
Or, if the school you received your loans at closed before you graduated, this situation would generally be called a discharge.
Even if you don’t complete your education, can’t find a job, or are unhappy with the quality of your education, you must repay your loans. But there are circumstances that may lead to federal student loans being forgiven, canceled, or discharged. Here are some of those options:
The PSLF Program may forgive the remaining balance on eligible Direct Loans, after 120 qualified monthly payments are made under a repayment plan (and working with a qualifying employer).
Those who teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency (amongst other qualifications) may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on select federal loans.
Cancellation for this specific loan is based on eligible employment or eligible volunteer service and the length of time applicants were in such a position, among other factors.
Qualification may relieve eligible borrowers from repaying a qualifying Direct Loan, a Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loan, and/or a Federal Perkins Loan or to complete a TEACH Grant service obligation.
Due to the death of the borrower or of the student on whose behalf a PLUS loan was taken out, federal student loans may be discharged.
Certain eligible borrowers may have federal student loans discharged if they file a separate action during bankruptcy, known as an “adversary proceeding.”
Borrowers who were unable to complete an academic program because their school closed might be eligible for a discharge of Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, or Federal Perkins Loans.
Due to a variety of circumstances, borrowers may be eligible to discharge Direct Loans or FFEL Program loans due to issues such as identity theft or mistakes made by a school.
Certain borrowers may be eligible for partial discharge of Direct Loans or FFEL Program loans if they withdrew from school, but the portion of a loan that the school was required to return to the borrower wasn’t returned.
Federal loan forgiveness programs are a logical place to start, but it can be smart to also consider other student loan forgiveness programs, too. There are forgiveness programs tailored to loan borrowers who live in certain locations, or have an in-demand and service-based vocation.
The MLRP is a loan repayment program designated for primary health care professionals. The aim of this program is to provide educational loan repayments as an incentive to practice in underserved communities. While awards never exceed the amount of debt, health professionals are eligible for up to $50,000 for a two-year contract. Applicants must commit to work for a set amount of time and be licensed to practice in Massachusetts.
In the spirit of complete transparency, we want you to know that we believe you should exhaust all of your federal grant and loan options before you consider a SoFi private student loan.
We believe that it is in each student’s best interest to look at federal financing options first in order to find the right financial aid package for them.
If you do decide a private student loan is the right fit for your educational needs, we’re happy to help! SoFi’s private student loan application process is easy and fast. We offer flexible payment options and terms and, don’t worry, there are absolutely zero fees.