On July 29, Governor Healey signed a budget that includes $93.5 million for the creation of MassEducate, a new financial aid program making community college free for all students who do not currently have a bachelor’s degree, regardless of age or income. Expanding on the success of MassReconnect, which the Healey-Driscoll administration unveiled last year, MassEducate will now offer tuition- and fee-free community college to all Massachusetts residents.
To try to help the campus respond quickly to student inquiries, we wanted to provide some important information to you about this initiative:
What does “Free Community College” mean?
The phrase “Free Community College” means that eligible Massachusetts residents can attend a MA community college at no cost to them through financial aid. MassEducate and MassReconnect, together, provide the opportunity for Massachusetts residents to earn an associate degree or certificate at QCC if they meet all eligibility requirements and complete the proper steps to enroll.
It is important for students to understand that “free” does not mean they won’t be charged for their courses. They will have a bill when they register, but if they apply for financial aid and qualify, these programs will be awarded as a last dollar grant to cover their tuition and required fees.
Depending on the financial aid program they qualify for, many students will also have eligibility for an allowance for books, supplies and other eligible educational expenses.
What is a “Last Dollar” Grant?
“Last Dollar” means that eligibility for the fund is determined after other grant and scholarship resources have been awarded to the student. Loans will not reduce their eligibility for grant funds under these programs.
As with traditional financial aid, these programs will not cover health insurance fees, portfolio assessment fees, credit for prior learning fees, library fines or any fees that are not charged to their Student Account. Students must also be registered for courses required for their major and must attend their courses to qualify for funding for those costs.
Who will qualify for “Free Community College”?
To be considered for either MassEducate or MassReconnect, students must:
If a student qualifies as a High School Completer under the Tuition Equity law, they can complete the state alternative Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA)
- Be a Massachusetts resident for at least one year prior to the start of classes for the semester,
- Enroll in a financial aid eligible degree or certificate program (all degrees and most certificates qualify),
- Register for at least six credits each semester,
- Have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree, and
- Meet other financial aid eligibility requirements, such as Satisfactory Academic Progress.
The individual programs have additional criteria that the Financial Aid Office will use as part of the process to determine their financial aid eligibility and award offer.
Note that there is no income limit to receive grant funding for tuition and required fees through these programs!
Early College and Dual Enrollment students currently in high school are not eligible for MassEducate.
What is MassEducate?
Students under 25 and those who have already earned an associate degree (but not a bachelor’s degree) can benefit from this program. The coverage provided for tuition and required fees has no income limit. MassEducate may include an allowance for books, supplies, and other expenses for students whose family income is below 125% of the median income in Massachusetts. (The dollar amount this equates to is still to be determined.)
What is MassReconnect?
Students who are 25 or older on the first day of classes and have not yet earned a college degree will be considered for MassReconnect funds. These students will receive an allowance for books and supplies regardless of income.
What if students have questions on MassEducate or MassReconnect?
Go to QCC for Free! has been created to answer general questions about eligibility and next steps. A new inquiry form has been created and is on that page for students to complete for more information. Financial Aid is available to assist students with questions along the way. Please note that the previous QCC website created solely for MassReconnect has been archived.
What about students who don’t qualify for MassEducate or MassReconnect?
That’s OK! There are other financial aid programs available to assist students in making QCC affordable, including other federal, state and institutional grants. All students should be encouraged to complete a FAFSA so we can determine what they may qualify for. Please direct them to Financial Aid if they have questions or concerns.
We anticipate that this new program will help:
- attract and retain students who have not yet earned a college degree or who are looking to change careers,
- students borrow less student loan funding for their college costs, and
- encourage FAFSA completion by students who previously opted out.
While many details are still to unfold, everyone at QCC will be impacted by this truly historic time in Massachusetts. QCC staff from the Financial Aid, Admissions, Academic Advising, Registrar, Student Success Center, Marketing and Business Offices, IT and others will be working together to implement this new program for Fall 2024.