UMassD students in the Fall

UMass Dartmouth Tuition Guarantee Program

Free Tuition Program for Fall 2025

UMass Dartmouth is proud to announce a transformative initiative, the UMass Dartmouth Deal, which will provide free tuition and mandatory fees to high-need, in-state undergraduate students. Read more to see if you qualify.

The UMass Dartmouth Deal

Program overview

Beginning with the Fall 2025 semester, the UMass Dartmouth Deal is a program designed to provide financial support to in-state, undergraduate students from families with an annual income of $75,000 or less. Our mission is to ensure that talented students can pursue their education without the burden of tuition costs, making higher education accessible for all qualified individuals.

The UMass Dartmouth Deal is not just about financial support. It's about our commitment to you—talented in-state students. We are dedicated to removing financial barriers, ensuring you can focus on your education and future success. 

Please submit an inquiry to the Student Service Center with any questions.

Eligibility criteria

  1. Be admitted to UMassD.
  2. Complete a FAFSA or MASFA by June 1.
  3. FAFSA applicants must demonstrate financial need, as defined by being Pell eligible and having an Adjusted Gross Income of $75,000 or less for the household.
  4. MASFA applicants must have an eligible status as designated by the Massachusetts’s Department of Higher Education (DHE) pursuant to the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law, and must have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 7,500 or less.
  5. Must be a Massachusetts resident, according to the DHE’s residency and classification policies.
  6. Students must be seeking an undergraduate degree in an on-campus degree program (12 credits or more).
  7. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 in high school grade point average or equivalent combination of HS GPA and SAT/ACT test scores, if applying as a first-year, or be a transfer student.
  8. Students must be enrolled in the fall semester to qualify for that academic year. Students who enroll beginning in the spring semester will not qualify until the following fall semester.
  9. The program is for students studying for their first bachelor’s degree—students must not already have earned a bachelor's degree or equivalent.
  10. Eligibility begins Fall 2025. Does not include summer and winter terms.

Benefits

  • The Dartmouth Deal covers tuition, mandatory fees and college fees for a maximum of four years of full-time undergraduate study.* The student is responsible for covering housing, meal plans, books, health insurance and other non-mandatory fees.
  • Access to financial literacy workshops and financial counseling services
  • Opportunities for scholarships and grants for textbooks, housing, and other educational expense
  • Guaranteed on-campus housing (cost of housing not covered by the program)

How it works

  • Getting the UMass Dartmouth Deal is straightforward. Students who file the FAFSA and meet the eligibility criteria will be enrolled in the program. No separate application process is required, making it easy for you to focus on your studies.
  • Eligible students will be notified of their tuition guarantee status through their student account and financial aid correspondence.
  • A student’s final cost is dependent on their individual financial award letter. Funding for the Dartmouth Deal relies upon adequate funding of existing federal and state financial aid programs, including but not limited to the federal Pell grant and Massachusetts state grant programs. Should the aid under these programs become insufficient to support a student’s costs, the Dartmouth Deal may be impacted.

Renewal and continued eligibility

Students must:

  • complete federal and state verification requirements and maintain eligibility
  • not be in default for federal or state aid programs
  • meet the university’s satisfactory academic progress policies
  • qualify for the Dartmouth deal annually
  • be enrolled continuously
  • maintain full-time enrollment of 12 credits or more for each semester

That’s it. It’s that simple to become a Corsair.

*If you join the program later in your undergraduate career, you will have a defined number of semesters of eligibility that will be determined by your academic standing as a sophomore (up to 6 semesters), junior (up to 4 semesters) or senior (up to 2 semesters). 

Award is subject to change and must be aligned with federal, state and institutional award guidelines. Awards associated with the Dartmouth Deal and other institutional funds are not subject to refunds.

Does not cover costs for study abroad programs.