Non-Traditional Scholars Opportunity Fund

The Non-Traditional Scholars Opportunity Fund provides support to students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office. This scholarship targets non-traditional students who meet one of the following criteria: (1) transfer students, (2) students who are of a non-traditional age to be entering college, (3) students with a dependent other than a spouse, or (4) veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The fund was established by Mathematics and Statistics alumnus Matthew Ciaschini '94 to help support diverse pathways to higher education in the natural sciences. Students are automatically considered for this award based on completion of the General Application, making it accessible to eligible students without requiring separate application materials. The scholarship amount varies based on available funding and individual need.