Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates One of the Most Comprehensive Free Community College Programs in the Country

Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates One of the Most Comprehensive Free Community College Programs in the Country:

 

Framingham, MA -- Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, state legislators, local officials and educators celebrated free community college in Massachusetts with the launch of MassEducate. Governor Maura Healey was joined by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Senate President Karen Spilka, Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega, community college presidents and students at MassBay Community College in Framingham to kick off this historic investment in higher education.

 

Building on the first successful year of Governor Healey’s MassReconnect program, which provides free community college to students 25 and older, MassEducate offers all residents who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree the opportunity to attend any of the state’s 15 public community colleges and pay no tuition or fees. Massachusetts now has one of the most accessible, equitable and comprehensive free community college programs in the country for full-time and part-time students, regardless of income. Students and families can learn more about financial aid opportunities and how to apply at Mass.Gov/StudentAid. 

 

“We knew that MassReconnect would be transformative for thousands of students, for our amazing community colleges, and for our economy – and that was only the beginning. This universal free community college program will continue to transform opportunities for students and strengthen our workforce,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Massachusetts’ community colleges are economic drivers, helping students move ahead in their careers and meeting the needs of our employers. We’re grateful to Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano and all of our partners in the Legislature for working with us to create this nation-leading program.” 

 

“Our administration is grateful to the legislature for their support of this sweeping free college program that builds on the success of MassReconnect,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We saw with MassReconnect that eliminating the financial barrier of tuition and fees brought more students into our community colleges, and we’re excited to build on that momentum by expanding these benefits to learners of all ages.”  

 

“Universal free community college is transformative. MassEducate will deliver an education to every resident who wants one, fill workforce shortages faced by our businesses, and has already reversed a decade of enrollment decline,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Our community colleges are well-positioned to support this program, which will change the life trajectories of many students and their families. I am profoundly grateful to Chair Comerford and Chair Rodrigues for their leadership, Governor Healey for her signature, our partners in the House of Representatives, and to the community colleges who are delivering a stellar education.”

 

“By building on the progress that we have made with MassReconnect, the comprehensive free community college program that the Legislature created in this year’s budget will help to foster educational opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth, especially for students that come from historically underserved communities,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “Critically, this program will also help to bolster workforce development here in Massachusetts. I want to thank Governor Healey for signing this initiative into law, as well as my colleagues in the House and our partners in the Senate for the work that they did to make these opportunities a reality.”

 

MassReconnect and MassEducate are having a significant impact on community college enrollment. Since the implementation of these programs, MassBay has reported 2,672 full-time students currently enrolled for the Fall 2024 semester, a 36.6 percent increase from the Fall 2022 enrollment.  

 

More than 4,500 students statewide received MassReconnect grant awards in the 2023-24 academic year. These new students drove an eight percent overall enrollment growth across Massachusetts community college, reversing a decade of decline. Now, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, in partnership with the Legislature, is building on the commitment to make higher education more affordable and accessible, with free community college projected to impact more than 45,000 students this year. 

 

Massachusetts has doubled state spending on financial aid, adding over $200 million in two years. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget designates $392 million to state financial aid, up from $184 million in Fiscal Year 2023. This includes $117.5 million in funding for MassEducate and MassReconnect. 

 

“We heard from MassReconnect students that the Commonwealth’s investment in them was game-changing and now we are offering that opportunity to our full and part-time students across the Commonwealth,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “Massachusetts comprehensive free community college program is a true testament to Massachusetts’ commitment to increasing access and affordability in higher education so students can realize their dreams. As we invest in students, we are also investing in our community colleges and the Commonwealth’s future.” 

 

“We’re grateful to Governor Healey and the legislature for Massachusetts’ historic investments in student financial aid, which position us to lead in socioeconomic upward mobility through higher education,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “We also want to thank our community colleges for their partnership in quickly implementing MassEducate so that learners can access it immediately.”  

 

To learn more about free community college, residents can contact their local public community college or go to Mass.Gov/StudentAid. MassEducate and MassReconnect are last dollar financial aid grant awards that are applied to a student’s account after all other state and federal financial aid and grants are applied. All students must complete FAFSA or MFSA, are subject to program guidelines and must maintain eligibility throughout the course of their studies to continue to receive financial aid. 

 

Statements of Support:

 

Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education:

“Today, we celebrate our state's historic investment in a mighty equity engine, workforce engine, and opportunity engine. We have seen the state's transformative investments at work through MassReconnect. MassEducate — universally free community college — builds on the program's successes and will allow more Massachusetts residents to access the promise and power of a higher education degree. I am deeply grateful to Governor Healey and Senate President Spilka for prioritizing higher education. Investing in our students today means a brighter tomorrow for our Commonwealth.” 

 

Representative Dave Rogers (D-Cambridge), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education:

"It was a pleasure to be at Mass Bay Community College today to meet with students and faculty to see how MassEducate will benefit their lives first hand. MassEducate is a landmark breakthrough for the Commonwealth and a major investment in our states future. I want to thank everyone involved in making this happen, including Governor Healey, Lt Governor Driscoll, Speaker Mariano, President Spilka, Secretary Tutwiler, Commissioner Ortega and Senator Comerford."

 

MassBay President David Podell:

“The MassReconnect and MassEducate programs have been game changers for MassBay Community College. We have seen a significant boost in our enrollment, which means we are able to impact more Massachusetts students and families than in years’ past. The Healey-Driscoll Administration and Massachusetts Legislature’s forward-thinking investment in higher education fortifies the pipeline of skilled workers in emerging industries across the Commonwealth, while also providing the opportunity of a lifetime for thousands of Massachusetts residents who can now access the education and training they need to gain a foothold in the modern workforce. We at MassBay are grateful for the free community college programs, and we are proud to continue serving as a bridge to equitable opportunities and sustained success for our current and future students.” 

 

Quinsigamond Community College President and Community College Council of Presidents Chair Luis Pedraja:

“The mission of the Massachusetts community colleges has always been to provide accessible education for all Massachusetts residents. MassEducate, building on the success of MassReconnect, makes that mission a reality by removing the financial burden of attending community college. Universal free community college underscores the investments made by the Healey-Driscoll Administration, Senate President Spilka, and the Legislature to ensure that higher education is a right of all Massachusetts residents and not reserved for those who can afford to pay for it.” 

 

Grace Arena, MassBay Community College student benefitting from MassEducate:

“To me, free community college has allowed me the chance to focus on what matters; my education, rather than how I was going to afford my education. As someone who has always taken my grades and assignments seriously, I was beyond excited to learn I could now put all my focus into doing well in my classes. This impact will continue even after I am out of community college, as I won’t be drowning in student debt or have to worry about paying off huge loans. Without MassEducate and the opportunities it has provided, I would not have been able to succeed in what I enjoy doing to the extent that I am now. Truly, my family and I will forever be grateful for this chance, and everything it has given us along the way.” 

 

Sara Guttierez, Cape Cod Community College benefiting from MassReconnect:

“I remember a time ten years ago when I had to drop out of college due to financial constraints. It was a difficult decision that weighed heavily on me, leading to increased stress and taking a toll on my overall health. However, with the launch of MassEducate, I see a renewed sense of hope and possibility. This initiative has opened doors for individuals who once thought higher education was out of reach.”