Scholarships & Grants

NBSS Pell Yes!

This scholarship addresses a unique financial challenge faced by many of our students. Many non-traditional students and career changers come to NBSS already having earned a bachelor’s degree. Because federal rules prohibit holders of a bachelor’s degree from receiving a Federal Pell Grant, a valuable financial aid resource has been unavailable to some NBSS students. Pell Yes!—our new institutional Pell Grant replacement program—makes up to $7,395 in individual funding available to qualified applicants every year.

NBSS Workforce Development Initiative

The NBSS Workforce Development Initiative (WDI) provides ‘full-ride’ scholarship awards to high-need individuals who experience significant barriers to employment. The School initiated WDI in 2012 to provide students from low-income backgrounds from Boston/Greater Boston with a clear pathway to the workforce. NBSS receives funding for these scholarships through various foundation and government grants.

The Initiative covers tuition and fees, tools, books, materials, public transportation, business cards, and a fee waiver for the School’s Business Course. Some special considerations are made for residents of the City of Boston and graduates of Boston Public Schools. Please contact the NBSS Financial Aid Office for more information and to request an application.

NBSS Yellow Ribbon Program

To honor your service to our country, we are proud to offer the NBSS Yellow Ribbon Scholarship to all veterans enrolling in one of our full-time programs. These funds may be used to cover tuition and all other qualified educational expenses, including tools, supplies and living expenses. Please contact the NBSS Financial Aid Office for details. NBSS encourages all veterans to apply for financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the current year of enrollment. We thank you for your service!

Impact Scholarships

Impact scholarships provide need-based funding to qualified applicants from a range of diverse backgrounds. This new initiative will enhance the School’s efforts towards promoting greater representation in our craft and trade industries.

NBSS General Scholarship Program

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the School is able to provide qualified students with tuition assistance. These one-year awards are based on financial need, as determined by the FAFSA, and like all gift aid, never need to be repaid. You must submit a FAFSA to be considered for a scholarship award from the School.

NBSS Scholarships awarded by the School can range between $6,300 and $10,800, depending on your program of enrollment.

NBSS Menino Scholarship

Each year NBSS identifies at least one incoming student who is a resident of The City of Boston or a graduate of Boston Public Schools for a full-tuition scholarship.

NBSS Mass Residency Grant

Massachusetts residents who do not currently possess a bachelor’s degree, and whose Expected Family Contribution (EFC) does not exceed $10,000 may qualify for an NBSS Mass Residency Grant of $2,000 annually.

Students from outside of Massachusetts should check their eligibility for their home state grants—please contact the state agency which runs the grant program for your home state by referencing the US Department of Education site.

The Federal Pell Grant is funded by the federal government and is considered ‘gift-aid’ which means it never has to be repaid. These grants are also based on your FAFSA.

The Federal Pell Grant is available to qualified NBSS students. This year, awards range from $740 to $7,395. View more information on the Pell Grant.

Students from states other than Massachusetts should check their eligibility—please contact the state agency which runs the grant program for your home state by referencing the US Department of Education site.

We encourage you to pursue private scholarship awards. Though you will need to spend time pursuing these on your own, they can be a valuable part of your educational financing plan. In most cases, private scholarships won’t reduce your existing, need-based financial aid.

Sources for finding private scholarships include high school counselors, libraries, employment agencies, community organizations, and of course online. If you receive a private scholarship, you or the awarding organizations should submit notification letters to the NBSS Financial Aid Office. NOTE: Be wary of fee-based scholarship search services, as they are rarely more effective than searching on your own.

Scholarship Search Engines

• NerdScholar from NerdWallet
• Fastweb
• UNIGO Scholarship Directory
• CollegeNET

Private Scholarships