There are thousands of private scholarship programs that can help you pay for college. Scholarships are gifts. They don’t need to be repaid. They are offered by employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. Some scholarships are based on academic achievement, others are designed to benefit members of a particular group (like women entering tech careers).
A scholarship might cover the entire cost of your tuition, or it might be a one-time award of a few hundred dollars. Franklin Cummings Tech strongly encourages students to research and apply for private scholarships (in addition to completing the FAFSA) because they can help reduce the cost of your education.
Our Financial Aid and Admissions team is ready to answer any questions you may have about financial aid or applying for private scholarships. However, please note that the organizations offering private scholarships are solely responsible for evaluating applications and awarding the scholarships.
Available Private Scholarships
These popular online search tools can help you research private scholarships based on your interests, location, and many other factors:
- FREE scholarship search tool from the US Department of Labor offers a comprehensive list of available private scholarships
- Paying for school just got easier from Fastweb
- Search for Scholarships from BigFuture/College Board
- SchollySearch from Scholly college scholarship app
Here are a few individual private scholarships we encourage Franklin Cummings Tech students to check out:
AGC Scholarship Scholarship Programs
The AGC and the Massachusetts Construction Advancement Program (MCAP) provide several scholarship awards each year to deserving individuals enrolled in a construction or civil engineering degree program at an accredited college or university. These include the AGC MA Scholarship & MCAP Online Scholarship Program, the Robert L. Petrucelli Grant, and the AGC of America Scholarships.
AGC MA Scholarship & MCAP Online Scholarship
Offered by: AGC MA | MCAP
Who is eligible: Applicants must be attending a college or university in Massachusetts or be a resident of Massachusetts, attending college in any state. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in a degree-granting program at an accredited college or university. The program must be related to construction, construction technology, construction engineering, civil engineering, or construction management. Candidates may be either full or part-time students. Financial need is not a criteria for eligibility but will be considered.
Typical award: Applications will be reviewed and winners selected by the AGC/MCAP Selection panel, which will consider the applicant’s interest in construction, grades and extracurricular activities.
Deadline to apply: November 1
Robert L. Petrucelli Grant
Offered by: AGC MA
Who is eligible: Candidates must have the goal of entering a career in commercial construction or already be in the industry, and be enrolled or approved for education or skills training related to the industry (i.e. pre-apprenticeships, certificate programs, apprenticeships, 2- year degree programs. Candidates must be from traditionally underrepresented groups and/or have financial need.
Typical award: Minimum of $500
Deadline to Apply: Accepted on a rolling basis; awarded quarterly
ACG of America Scholarships
Offered by: AGC of America Education and Research Foundation
Who is eligible: The AGC Education and Research Foundation offers undergraduate and graduate level scholarships to students enrolled in ABET or ACCE-accredited construction management or construction related engineering programs.
Typical award: Over $10 million in scholarships have been awarded to more than 4,000 students attending colleges and universities across the country.
Deadline to apply: Application for fall opens on July 1
Alray Scholars Program
Through mentoring and financial support, this program gives promising graduates of Boston Public Schools a second chance at a college education, assisting them in overcoming hurdles to earn their degree and become stronger contributors to the Greater Boston community.
Offered by: Alray Taylor Second Chance Scholarship
Who is eligible: Students who graduated from a Boston public high school or a Boston charter high school, or received a GED after attending one of these schools; or graduated from the Metco program while residing in Boston and who enrolled in but did not finish a post-high school education program and has used their time away from their educational program productively and wants to return to school.
Typical award: $1,000-$4,000
Deadline to apply: There are two scholarship cycles throughout the year. The deadlines are June 1 and Oct 15.
Building Futures: W.T. Rich DEI Scholarship
This program is designed to support students from underrepresented communities in Massachusetts who are pursuing education in construction management, trades, or related disciplines. The funds are intended to be used for tuition, fees, tools, or other educational expenses.
Offered by: W.T. Rich Company
Who is eligible: Students from underrepresented communities in Massachusetts who are enrolling in construction-related disciplines
Awards: Two scholarships of $2,500 each and one scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded
Deadline: Fall 2025 application opens May 27 and will remain live through July 14, 2025.
How to Apply: Students will be asked to complete an application form and submit a brief essay on their goals in the construction field, any relevant experience, and how this scholarship will support their career journey.
Environmental Business Council (EBC) Scholarship
EBC is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1990 by environmental and energy company executives who began meeting on a regular basis to exchange ideas and share experiences. EBC’s mission is to foster the development of the environmental and energy industries in New England and, as part of that mission, encourage future generations of students to begin their careers as environmental and energy professionals in the region.
Offered by: EBC
Who is eligible: Students currently enrolled in an accredited New England 2- or 4-year higher education program pursuing a degree related to the environmental or energy fields.
Award: For the 2025-2026 academic year, up to 2 students will be selected to receive an EBC scholarship. Each scholarship is $2,500 and payable directly to the awardees to use at their discretion. Recipients will also be connected to a professional in a similar field of interest to receive mentorship.
Deadline: Applications are due by June 27, 2025 and recipients will be notified by July 25, 2025.
Fidelity Scholars Program
The Fidelity Scholars Program supports the access, persistence, and degree completion and certification of students of color who want to attend college. The program combines a generous annual need-based scholarship with robust wraparound services that support students.
Offered by: Fidelity Investments, in partnership with UNCF
Who is eligible: First-time undergraduate students from underserved and historically unrepresented populations. Student must be at least 18 years of age, a Massachusetts resident, a US citizen or legal permanent resident, be Pell eligible or demonstrate financial need, have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 to 3.5 to enter the program, and must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 to remain in the program.
Typical Award: Up to $6,000 for students in certificate programs; up to $31,000 over two years (up to $15,500 per year) for associate degree students; and up to $55,313 over four years (up to $13,825.25 per year) for bachelor’s degree students
Deadline: You must get accepted to Franklin Cummings Tech and submit your FAFSA 2025-2026 by April 15, 2025 to be considered
Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program
The Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program was established by the Legislature to encourage degree completion in high demand fields to address the workforce needs of the Commonwealth. The Scholarship supports students pursuing majors in STEM (all of Franklin Cummings Tech’s programs) and showing high levels of commitment and academic achievement.
Offered by: State of Massachusetts
Who is eligible: Massachusetts residents enrolling as first-time students in STEM, Health Professions, Education, Business and Economics, Social Work, and Criminal Justice majors. Students must maintain a college-level GPA of 3.0 to remain eligible.
Typical Award: Maximum of $17,500 per year for full-time students
Deadline to apply: August
Mike Rowe Scholarship
Created by Mike in 2008, the mikeroweWORKS Foundation offers a scholarship through the Work Ethic Scholarship Program to help train people in skilled trade jobs.
Offered by: mikeroweWORKS Foundation
Who is eligible: To be eligible for this award, you must:
- Be a high school senior, high school graduate, or have a GED equivalent.
- Plan to complete a trade-related program after December 1, 2024.
- Be enrolled or plan to enroll in an approved trade program at an accredited two-year college, vocational, or technical school, or other approved technical institute in the United States. Four-year degree or bachelor programs are not eligible.
Typical Award: The number and amounts of awards are determined by the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and its Evaluation Committee, and the awards are not renewable.
Deadline to apply: April
National Safety Council Scholarship Program
Answering the call to promote the profession, National Safety Council is helping grow engagement with students and student members—in part through the award of travel grants, cash scholarships, or tuition coverage for NSC Advanced Safety Certificate eligible courses. The NSF offers a variety of scholarship programs for students pursuing degrees in occupational health and safety or related STEM fields and other relevant majors.
Offered by: National Safety Council
Who is eligible: Students entering a wide variety of STEM programs; some of the scholarships are designed specifically for women, students attending Hispanic-serving institutions, or other criteria. Check the web page for all the details.
Typical award: $5,000 plus travel grants and free safety courses
Deadline to apply: Varies by scholarship
One Family Scholarship
The One Family Scholars program provides individualized academic and career coaching to single parents with low incomes in college in Massachusetts. One Family Scholars receive scholarships to cover direct costs of college (such as tuition, fees, books, and technology) as well as indirect costs of college (such as childcare, transportation, and living expenses).
Offered by: One Family Inc.
Who is eligible: Massachusetts residents who are single heads of household with a dependent child under age 18, meet certain income requirements, and who are currently enrolled in a degree-granting program.
Typical Award: N/A
Deadline to apply: Fall application opens each April
Schneider Electric SkillPointe Scholarship
Schneider Electric is investing $20,000 in scholarship funds for individuals pursuing continued education in Building Automation & HVAC through the Building Energy Management Program at the Franklin Cummings Tech. We will award $5,000 grants to four applicants in the Boston area.
Offered by: Schneider Electric
Who is eligible: Students will be attending or planning to attend the Building Energy Management program at Franklin Cummings Tech and plan to pursue a career in Building Automation, Security, IT, Electrical or HVAC.
Typical Award: $5,000
Deadline to apply: July
Somerville Learn and Earn Scholarship
Low to moderate income Somerville residents can receive a scholarship of $10,000—plus a $200 monthly stipend—to earn any Franklin Cummings Tech clean energy or IT certificate or complete an associate degree through this special “Learn and Earn” Scholarship program.
Offered by: City of Somerville Job Creation and Retention Trust Fund
Who is eligible: Low to moderate income Somerville residents who hold a high school diploma or GED/HiSET, and who enroll in a Franklin Cummings Tech clean energy or IT certificate or associate degree completion program starting in Fall 2023.
Typical Award: $10,000 for one year
Deadline to apply: No deadline, but program is limited to just 15 students
Additional Private Scholarship Resources
Make sure scholarship information and offers you find are legitimate; and remember that you don’t have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid. Check out the US Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid’s information on how to avoid scams.
Here are some more places you can learn about private scholarships for which you may be eligible:
- your state grant agency
- foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups
- organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest
- ethnicity-based organizations
- your employer or your parents’ employers
