UMass Boston

What is Beacon Pledge?

Beacon Pledge is UMass Boston's promise to keep higher education affordable for Massachusetts residents. If you're a Massachusetts resident with a household adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less, your tuition and mandatory fees are covered by federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships.

How it works?

To qualify for Beacon Pledge, you must meet these criteria:

• In-state student meeting the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education residency classification. Parent contributor(s) on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) must meet the Massachusetts residency requirement of at least one year prior to the start of the enrolled term.
• Eligible for Massachusetts state aid.
• Enroll as a matriculated full-time student (minimum of 12 credits, or the equivalent) in an eligible undergraduate program of study leading to a bachelor’s degree.
• Complete the FAFSA or MASFA by the state deadline, and meet all eligibility requirements prior to June 1.
• Household Adjusted Gross Income of $75,000 or less and Pell eligible as determined by the FAFSA, and have demonstrated need. Students who are completing the MASFA must have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7500 or less to be eligible.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with institutional and federal standards.
• Must not have received a prior bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
• Must be enrolled in the fall semester. Beacon Pledge does not extend to the optional summer or winter semesters. Students who begin in the spring semester will not receive the pledge until the following fall semester.

The FAFSA form requires financial information, including information from tax forms and balances of savings and checking accounts. The 2025–26 FAFSA form requests 2023 tax information.

How do I maintain the Beacon Pledge?

• Must maintain MA residency. Parent / Guardian contributor(s) on the FAFSA or MASFA must maintain the Massachusetts residency.
• Students must attend their courses to avoid financial aid adjustment.
• If a student fully withdraws, their aid could be adjusted. Withdrawal from the fall semester requires immediate spring re-enrollment( SR page) in order to retain spring Beacon Pledge eligibility.
• Eligibility is determined each year based on FAFSA or MASFA application. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with institutional and federal standards during the SAP evaluation period.

What is covered?

The Beacon Pledge covers in-state tuition and mandatory fees for Massachusetts residents that meet the criteria to qualify.

Outside Resources

All outside resources received after your award offer will require an adjustment to your aid offer.

Outside resources including but not limited to outside scholarships, tuition credits, fee waiver, and stipends.

Other Aid

Any form of gift aid received after your award offer will require an adjustment to your aid offer.