Boston Area Education and Career Planning Center

Center Hours

Monday        9:00AM - 5:00PM (in-person, closed for lunch 12-1pm)

Tuesday        9:00AM - 5:00PM (in-person, closed for lunch 12-1pm)

Wednesday  9:00AM - 6:00PM

Thursday      9:00AM - 5:00PM 

Friday           9:00AM - 5:00PM

Saturday       9:00AM - 4:00PM (in-person)

Closure notice:  The MassEdCO Education and Career Planning Center at BPL will be closed on Tuesday, April 9 for in-person advising. We are still available for phone or online advising. Please call the main line at 671-536-0200. 

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Overview

With a fundamental belief in the importance of building equity, diversity and inclusion in post-secondary education for underrepresented students, we provide personalized guidance and encouragement to support Massachusetts high school students, parents, and adults pursuing education beyond high school. Our community walk-in centers support thousands of individuals each year. Supported by federal TRIO grants, we help high school and post-high school students find the right education option beyond high school; successfully apply and enroll; find scholarships and financial aid; and find lifelong learning opportunities to navigate their higher education and career journey as the needs arise.

History

First established as the Higher Education Information Center at the Boston Public Library in 1986 to meet the college planning needs of the local community, MassEdCO’s community-based programs ha-ve helped hundreds of thousands of students in Greater Boston plan for their higher education needs. Today, these programs not only provide one-on-one counsel about higher education planning, but guidance on how that higher education must be linked to finding scholarships and financial aid.

Services

While the services at the Center differ depending on individual needs, our advisor always help students: 

• Identify education and career options 
• Build and revise college and scholarship essays
• Submit applications for college and career training programs
• Apply for financial aid (FAFSA or CSS Profile)
  • FAFSA Checklist
• Search for Private Scholarships

  • We manage a local private scholarship which is available to undergraduate and graduate students.Boston Scholarship Database

  • We offer scholarship opportunities to potential and current postsecondary students. Ask one of our advisors about our Sheila Gamble Cook Scholarship: Application 

• Review financial aid packages

• Financial literacy assistance

• Loan default assistance

Interested in meeting with an advisor? Make an appointment by calling 617-536-0200 or complete our online intake form.

Workshops

We offer these free workshops to community based agencies, schools districts and organizations in the greater Boston area. To request education and career planning workshops for your organization, please fill our the form by clicking on the link Community Outreach Request form . 

• Exploring Options: Many Paths to a Successful Career
• The Admission Process
• Funding for Higher Education
• The Financial Aid process
• Private Scholarships 101: The Basics 
• Postsecondary Survival Skills Series