Here at ACE we are excited to hear the news that beginning in the fall of 2024, community college is now free for Massachusetts state residents without a previous bachelor’s degree! MassEducate builds off of MassReconnect, a program which made community college free for residents over the age of 25 last year–increasing access to affordable education statewide. That’s right, you heard it: no tuition, no fees. An allowance for supplies and books is also available for certain students.
From The Boston Globe: ‘It feels so relieving.’ Students celebrate free community college program by Hilary Burns
The program, MassEducate, expands an initiative launched last year to make community college free for students 25 and older, which drove enrollment growth at the public, two-year schools for the first time in several years. Massachusetts’ 15 community colleges serve about 90,000 students, the majority of whom work while pursuing their degrees.
MassEducate covers tuition and fees, which cost an average of about $7,000, as well as books for students under a certain income threshold. Anyone without a bachelor’s degree and who has lived in Massachusetts for at least a year is eligible. The program is funded with revenue from the state’s tax on high earners, which charges a surtax of 4 percent on income over $1 million.
Community colleges across the state are preparing for double-digit enrollment growth this year, said Nate Mackinnon, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges.
“It’s a momentous occasion for the community colleges, and for the state as a whole,” Mackinnon said. “We’ve moved the top of the ceiling up on free education from stopping at 12th grade.”
State leaders said free community college will be a boon to employers, especially in industries facing workforce shortages, such as health care. College presidents and advocates, meanwhile, hope the program will prompt much-needed improvements to campus infrastructure and boost the number of students transferring to four-year schools.
To learn more on how to access MassEducate support, visit the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges website.