Resources

Browse Financial Aid, Career Exploration and Community College resources below

Financial Aid & Resources

Local Scholarship & Grant Providers

  • ACE MV offers tuition support for coursework and training related to their Career Explorations pathways. These pathways include programs in:

    Contact

    Email admin@acemv.org‍

  • Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation encourages students of all ages to apply for tuition support to be used towards college, graduate level, professional development and certificate program studies.

    The MVCF provides scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors, current students, and adult learners alike.

    Visit their website here.

    Contact: elizabethbennett@marthasvineyardcf.org

  • MVYouth offers the following scholarship opportunities:

    • College Scholarships: Graduating seniors who qualify for financial assistance and have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, character and service are eligible for financial support to attend the college or university of their choice.

    • Health & Education Scholarships: Graduating seniors who qualify for financial assistance to pursue degrees in healthcare and education are eligible for financial support to attend the college or university of their choice.

    • Workforce Development Scholarships: Graduating seniors and young adults ages 18-25 years old who qualify for financial assistance to pursue one and two-year certification, licensure or associate’s degree programs, both on and off the Island, are eligible for financial support.

    Deadline for all scholarships:
    February 9th

    Visit their website to learn more.

    Contact

    Lindsey Scott, Executive Director
    lindseyscott@mvyouth.com

    (508) 648-1353

  • The Vision Fellowship awards financial support for the education and professional development of Island-based emerging leaders and change makers. Fellowships also may be awarded for self-designed, Island-based projects and social enterprises.

    The Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship’s seeks candidates who strive to meet challenges related to the Island’s environmental and social fabric in the interest areas listed here:

    • Affordable Housing

    • Alternative and Renewable Energy

    • Conservation and Biodiversity

    • Education, including Environmental Education

    • Elder Services

    • Health Care, including Mental Health

    • Island Cultures

    • Shellfish and Fishery Management and Conservation

    • Social Services

    • Sustainable Agriculture

    • Sustainable Architecture/Built Environment

    • Water (including Nitrogen Management and Water Resources)

    • Waste (including Composting and Recycling)

      They award grant funding for the following groups:

    • Students entering degree programs (graduate, technical and undergraduate) and non-degree programs (certification courses, trainings, and work-shops) to enhance professional knowledge and skills.

    • Individuals who propose a project or activity that clearly addresses or advances one or more of the Vision Fellowship’s sustainability areas of interest on the Island.

    • College-bound high school seniors whose educational goals are strongly aligned with one or more of the Vision Fellowship’s sustainability areas of interest.Application cycle begins in December.

    Learn more here

    Contact
    Melissa McKee Hackney, Executive Director
    Email: hackney@vineyardvision.org

Career Navigation Support

Looking for individualized support? Want to get more clarity on your next step?

Work with an ACE MV Career Navigator to explore career pathways, financial aid resources and training opportunities.

Book a Session with a Career Navigator

Career Exploration Resources

Career Outlooks and Skills Assessments

Community Colleges

Did you know that community college is free in Massachusetts?


Massachusetts has 15 community colleges

  • Public community colleges are free for students of any age and income in Massachusetts.

    To be eligible for free community college in Massachusetts you must:

    • Enroll as a full-time or part-time student in one of Massachusetts' 15 public community colleges with a high school diploma (or equivalent),

    • Enroll in at least six credits per semester in an approved program of study leading to an associate degree or certificate,

    • Have not earned a prior bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent),

    • Live in Massachusetts for at least one year with an intent to stay in the state,

    • Maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the college’s requirements, AND

    • Not be in default on any federal or state educational loan.

    More information here

  • A college degree can change your life, but rising costs can sink your dreams. MassTransfer can greatly reduce the overall cost of a bachelor's degree, enabling you to earn college degrees with lower student debt.

    How it Works:

    1. Start by earning an Associate degree at a community college (free in Massachusetts)

    2. Transfer to a State University or UMass Campus

    3. Earn a Bachelor’s degree

    More information here

    This search tool allows you to visualize transfer pathways between community colleges and bachelor's degree granting-institutions within the Massachusetts Public System of Higher Education. You can specify the community college, the degree that you want to pursue, and college where you would like to earn your bachelor's degree.