Student Scholarships, Awards & Special Programs

Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award

The Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery is a a non-need-based tuition credit program that

  • Recognizes high academic achievement on MCAS and other measures of academic achievement;
  • Recognizes high academic achievement as identified by outside forums including competitions, student publications, and awards;
  • Provides an incentive for students to perform to the best of their abilities on MCAS and on the course of studies beyond grade 10; and
  • Recognizes high academic achievement in areas not included in MCAS.

This tuition credit may be used for four consecutive years at Massachusetts public colleges and universities.

Comparison of Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award and the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

2026 update for Koplik Coordinators/Guidance Counselors:

The application for the Koplik Certificate of Mastery is now a completely electronic process with an online application system.

The eligible student list will only be available in the new application system, which requires a mandatory training session to navigate. Please click the link to register for training.

Things to Note:

  • This training is mandatory. The old system is no longer available and paper/emailed applications will not be accepted.
  • This training is for High School Koplik Coordinators. Please register using your work email address. Any registrations containing a personal email address will be removed.

2026 Update for Students:

Coordinators* at your child's high school are asked to inform the families of initial qualification as soon as possible after receiving the eligibility list from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This list is released in segments based on the MCAS score availability. The final list is normally available by late winter (Jan/Feb) of senior year. This letter explains the remaining requirements and next steps should the student wish to pursue the award. Students may also check eligibility online.

How to Apply?

Students meeting the initial eligibility requirements (determined by MCAS exams taken before November of senior year) must register for an online account to complete the application. You may check eligibility and send an automatic interest form to your coordinator (if you are eligible) or register for an account by completing and returning the Koplik Interest Form to your high school's Koplik coordinator or guidance counselor no later than April 15. Please Do Not Attempt To Create an Account on Your Own!

Application Process:

Key dates to keep in mind:

Interest/account registration form DeadlineApplication start DeadlineApplication submission DeadlineAP score submission Deadline
(Pre Approval Required)
April 15, 2026May 1, 2026June 15, 2026July 15, 2026
  • April 15: Interest Form/ Account registration deadline
    • If you do not return this form to Register for an account by 4/15 then you will not be able to complete an application and will forfeit the tuition credit.
    • Please Do Not Attempt To Create an Account on Your Own!
  • May 1: Deadline to Start application
    • If you do not log in to Start the application by 5/1 then your account will be closed, and you will forfeit the tuition credit.
  • June 15: Deadline to Submit application
    • If you do not Submit the application by 6/15 then your account will be closed, and you will forfeit the tuition credit.
      • Students awaiting AP scores must get written pre-approval from their high school Koplik Coordinator (there is a Specific form for this!) to use the July 15 deadline.
        • If you have preapproval, are awaiting AP scores, and do not Submit the application by 7/1, then your account will be closed, and you will forfeit the tuition credit.

* Every public high school, regional high school, regional vocational technical high school and public charter high school is asked to assign a person to serve as the Koplik coordinator. The Koplik coordinator is responsible for:

  • notifying students who initially qualify for the Koplik Certificate as soon as eligibility is determined.
  • advising students on how they may fulfill the requirements.
  • creating student online accounts.
  • reviewing online applications; and,
  • verifying the information of students who successfully complete the requirements to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education via the Koplik Application in the security portal (this information may not be submitted via email)

All applications and supporting documentation must be submitted directly through the online application system; documents sent to DESE will not be processed.

For any questions you may have regarding the Koplik Certificate of Mastery, please contact Alexia.J.Cribbs@mass.gov .

Award Amounts:

Recipients of the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery are eligible for an award of a non-need-based tuition credit for state-supported undergraduate courses. Individual student awards shall be no more than the resident undergraduate tuition rate at the participating institution. For updated information on current tuition rates at Massachusetts Public Colleges and Universities, please visit Massachusetts Department of Higher Education's Koplik Certificate of Mastery Tuition Credit — Current and Recent Value .

Massachusetts State Colleges and Universities that Accept the Koplik Certificate of Mastery

Community Colleges

State Colleges and Universities

University of Massachusetts

Last Updated: August 27, 2025

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