SouthCoast Foundation Opens $900K Scholarship Applications
More than 65 scholarships are available to students pursuing higher education, technical training, certificates, and workforce programs.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Scholarships
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SouthCoast Community Foundation opened applications for more than 65 scholarships totaling over $900,000. Applications are due January 11, 2027.
Why it matters
The scholarships cover a wide range of paths, including college, vocational and technical education, certificate programs, and workforce training. The foundation's revised application this year is designed to match applicants with the questions most relevant to their situation.
The foundation awarded more than $900,000 to over 120 students in 2026, and has distributed $6.2 million in scholarships and more than $68 million in grants since its 1995 founding. The number of awards and dollar amounts for the upcoming cycle have not been specified.
The players
SouthCoast Community Foundation
A community foundation headquartered in New Bedford that serves 41 cities and towns across southeastern Massachusetts and has been granting scholarships and grants since 1995.
The details
Most scholarships use the foundation's Universal Application, which matches applicants with awards they may be eligible for, while some require separate applications. Graduating high school seniors, technical certificate or trade school students, and current college students can apply.
Timeline
Nov. 17, 2026, 4 to 5 p.m.: First optional virtual drop-in application help session.
Dec. 17, 2026, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Second optional virtual drop-in application help session.
Jan. 5, 2027, 4 to 5 p.m.: Third optional virtual drop-in application help session.
Jan. 11, 2027: Scholarship applications due.
Season Trajectory
The foundation's Universal Application, which matches students to multiple scholarships through a single form, is being refined this cycle with questions tailored to different applicant types. Its cumulative $6.2 million in scholarships since 1995 places this year's $900,000-plus offering within a long-running regional giving program.
Students in the 41 served communities can apply through a single Universal Application to be matched with multiple scholarships. Individual scholarship descriptions and eligibility requirements are available to review before applying.
The takeaway
Applying through the Universal Application can connect you to several scholarships at once, so starting before the January 11, 2027 deadline gives you the most options. Attending one of the optional help sessions can make the process easier to navigate.
What happens next
Three optional virtual drop-in sessions will help students and families with applications on Nov. 17, Dec. 17, and Jan. 5, ahead of the Jan. 11, 2027 deadline.
Further reading
For more options on paying for school, browse Scholarships across Massachusetts.
More information
Review individual scholarship descriptions and eligibility requirements before you apply.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Herald News.
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