City on a Hill Scholarships

The City on a Hill Foundation offers a monthly scholarships which feature varying topics and eligibility requirements. While many of our scholarships are reserved specifically for former students of City on a Hill Charter Public School, we also offer opportunities for high school and college students across Massachusetts and nationwide. Before you apply, we recommend that you check out our Frequently Asked Questions. If the answer to your question cannot be found there, feel free to contact us.

Current Opportunities

  • Theme: College Transition • Growth

    Eligibility:

    • First or second year students enrolled in a college or university, with priority consideration for Boston students

    Awards: Three Winners - $1,000 each

    Application Due: May 31, 2026

    Decision Date: June 14, 2026

    Scholarship Prompt & Required Uploads: 

    • Submit an essay of 350-500 words responding to the following prompt: What is one thing you wish someone had told you before your first semester? How would you approach college differently knowing what you know now?

    • Provide proof of enrollment (including, but not limited to a current financial aid award or transcript) as of Spring 2026

  • Theme: Fine Arts • Activism Through Art

    Eligibility:

    • High school (9th - 12th grade) or undergraduate students (2- or 4-year college) who are living in Boston or are from Boston; and

    • Enrolled in school during Spring 2026.

    Awards:

    • 1st Place — $3,000

    • 2nd Place — $2,000

    • 3rd Place — $1,000

    Application Due: May 15, 2026

    Decision Date: May 30, 2026

    Scholarship Prompt & Required Uploads: 

    • Submit the following:

      • A portfolio of. 3-5 original artistic works (including, but not limited to visual art, music, creative writing, etc); and

      • An artist statement of 150-200 words addressing inspiration, themes and connection to activism, community, or civic engagement.

    • Provide proof of enrollment (including, but not limited to a current financial aid award or transcript) as of Spring 2026

  • Theme: Alternative Pathways • Persistence
    Eligibility:

    • Current enrollment in a Massachusetts-based alternative pathway (ie. trade school, job development programs, apprenticeship etc)

    • Priority consideration will be given to CoaH alumni

    Awards:

    • 1st Prize - $3,000

    • 2nd Prize - $2,000

    • 3rd Prize - $1,000

    Due Date: June 14, 2026
    Decision Date: June 24, 2026

    Scholarship Prompt & Required Uploads:

    1. An essay (300-500 words) responding to the following prompt: What has taking an alternative pathway to your education taught you?

    2. Evidence of enrollment in an alternative pathway program (including, but not limited to an acceptance letter or a confirmation of attendance from the program on official letterhead).

Apply Now!
Apply Now!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The City on a Hill Foundation offers a monthly scholarships which feature varying topics and eligibility requirements. While many of our scholarships are reserved specifically for former students of City on a Hill Charter Public School, we also offer opportunities for high school and college students across Massachusetts and nationwide.

  • We post at least one opportunity per month, and they are typically posted at least six (6) weeks before the application deadline.

  • Yes! We encourage you to apply to as many opportunities as you are eligible.

    We ask, however, that you only submit one application per opportunity.

  • Possibly. For the majority of City on a Hill's Monthly Scholarships, we ask that submissions for our opportunities be created specifically for our prompts, as they are often much more specific topics than a personal statement. There may be times, however, when a prompt calls for a portfolio or creative works, and in those cases, a previous used submission can be used for our opportunities. We ask that applicants use their best judgement knowing that their application will be evaluated for adherence to the prompt in addition to its contents.

  • No. City on a Hill does not accept any AI generated or assisted work. If it is suspected that a submission is in part or wholly generated by AI, your application may be marked as ineligible in our system.

  • Our applications are evaluated by a committee of educators from the Boston area, many of whom are previous City on a Hill faculty or Board members. All applications are reviewed by the committee after being anonymized by our applicant system, and committee members are not notified of applicant identities other than those of awardees who are publicly announced.

  • If you are applying to an eligible scholarship as someone who is neither a CoaH alumni nor former faculty/staff, please select “Friend of the Foundation (Other).”