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Student Scholarships, Awards & Special Programs

Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award

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

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

This financial 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

2027 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 online application system, which requires a mandatory training session to navigate. Please click the link below that best describes the training you need:

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.

2027 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 scores from exams taken between September of Grade 9 and November of Grade 12; scores from exams taken after November of grade 12 are not accepted for initial eligibility) must complete an online application. You may check/confirm eligibility and request an application from the Teaching and Learning Unit at DESE no later than April 20, 2027. Please Do Not Attempt To Create an Account on Your Own!

Application Process:

Key dates to keep in mind:

Application Request DeadlineApplication Submission DeadlineAP Score Submission Deadline
(Pre Approval Required)
April 20, 2027May 10, 2027July 19, 2027
  • April 20: Application request deadline
    • If you do not request an application by April 20, 2027, 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 10: Deadline to Submit application
    • If you do not Submit the application by 5/10/27 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 19 deadline.
        • If you have preapproval, are awaiting AP scores, you must Submit the application by 5/10/27 and follow the extension procedures noted on the form. If you do not follow the procedure on the extension form, then your account will be closed, and you will forfeit the tuition credit.
        • Students without proper extension pre-approval documentation will be held to the May 10th deadline.

* 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.
  • 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.

In order to claim the Koplik tuition credit, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least one year prior to entering college as a freshman;
  • be a United States citizen or a non-citizen authorized by the federal government to live and work in the United States on a temporary or permanent basis;
  • complete and submit the Koplik Certificate of Mastery application by May 10, 2027
  • be a graduate of a Massachusetts public high school;
  • complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
  • enroll as a full-time student at an eligible Massachusetts public college or university; and
  • submit the Stanley Z. Koplik award letter and Certificate of Mastery to the financial aid office.

To continue receiving the Koplik tuition credit, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • be enrolled full-time at a Massachusetts public college or university;
  • maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 on all college work; and;
  • annually complete the FAFSA and provide the completed FAFSA application to their higher education institution, along with the tuition credit award notification letter.

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: September 2, 2026

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