GRAD Last Mile Fund
The Boston Foundation
Emergency completion grants (up to $3,000) for Massachusetts college students near graduation who face non-academic financial hardship and have exhausted other aid.
Who should apply
Students close to finishing their degree at a partner Massachusetts college who hit an unexpected financial barrier in their final stretch.
Eligibility
MA college students on track to graduate within 1–2 semesters facing non-academic financial hardship with other aid exhausted. Priority to undocumented/DACA students, parents, and veterans.
What you get
- One-time emergency grant up to $3,000 toward non-academic costs that threaten degree completion
What the application involves
- Apply through your college (one of ~15 MA partner institutions)
- Demonstrate near-graduation status and non-academic financial hardship
Application tips
- Ask your college's financial-aid or student-success office whether your school is a GRAD Last Mile partner.
- Apply as soon as a hardship arises, funds are administered locally.
- Document that other aid options are exhausted.
Good to know
Created in 2018 with the City of Boston; has supported 1,600+ students with $2.2M+. Funds are distributed by partner colleges, not applied for centrally.
Not eligible for this one? These are open anywhere in the U.S.
Being in the wrong state rules out a lot of programs and almost none of the good ones. Here are three you can apply to from anywhere, soonest deadline first.
Apply anytime
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$2,000 No Essay Scholarship
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A $2,000 scholarship awarded every month with no essay and no account sign-up required. The form takes about two minutes and you can enter again each month.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S. · grades 11–12 · college
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DoSomething Scholarships ("It Pays to Do Good")
DoSomething.org
Scholarships earned by completing volunteer, social-change, or civic-action campaigns, no essay, GPA, or recommendations required, making them highly accessible to younger students.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S. · grades 9–12
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National Medical Fellowships (NMF) Scholarships & Awards
National Medical Fellowships, Inc.
A long-standing program of need- and merit-based scholarships for students underrepresented in medicine and the health professions. Mostly for medical/graduate health students, a pipeline resource students grow into.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S.