City of Cambridge 2026 Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted

Applications for the 2026 City of Cambridge Scholarship are currently being accepted now through March 4, 2026. The annual Scholarship Fund, which is in its 34^th year, provides financial assistance to college-bound high school seniors and other Cambridge residents who wish to pursue post-secondary education.

Applicants can once again submit their application online at Cambridgema.gov/cityscholarship.

In 2025, the City of Cambridge awarded 86 scholarships of $3,000 each for a total of $258,000. Since the program’s inception in 1993, the City has awarded 1,519 scholarships totaling $3.85 million. With the increasing cost of higher education, these scholarships help ease the financial burden for many Cambridge individuals and families. 

Listed below are the Scholarship application eligibility requirements:

• Must be a resident of Cambridge (all ages may apply).
• Must be attending, received admittance to, or have an application pending at an accredited education institution beyond high school level prior to award date of May 2026.
• The scholarship is paid directly to education institution and must be used during the 2026-2027 academic year.
• Prior recipients are NOT eligible as the City Scholarship Award is granted one-time only.
• Scholarships can be held for 6 years.

The City of Cambridge Scholarship fund is administered by the Finance Department.  A Scholarship Committee comprised of six Cambridge residents, appointed by the Cambridge City Manager, reviews and ranks all applications, and selects the scholarship recipients. Applications are evaluated based on academic achievement, financial need, community involvement and extracurricular activities, and special circumstances. 

Interested residents may apply online and obtain appropriate signatures before submitting it for consideration. The deadline for the 2026 scholarship application and all supporting documentation is March 4, 2026.  If individuals have any questions or need assistance with making a contribution or submitting an application, they should contact the City’s Finance Department at 617-349-4220 or Scholarships@cambridgema.gov.

The Scholarship Program is possible thanks to the generosity of Cambridge residents and businesses.  Contributions can be made online or via mail to the City of Cambridge Scholarship Fund, City of Cambridge, P.O. Box 2005, Cambridge, MA 02139.