Want to get a free college degree on Cape Cod? Here are two ways to do that.

If you've never gotten a college degree, Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable is now literally giving them away for free — as long as you study and earn it.

Gov. Maura Healey on July 29 signed into law the $57.78 billion Fiscal 2025 state budget , which in part establishes the MassEducate program, a new initiative that makes every community college in the state free for anyone who has never earned a degree. The state budget allocates $93.5 million to fund the program .

The program — to earn a certificate or up to two associate degrees — will pay all your tuition and fees, and provide a stipend for books and supplies for some students.

New free opportunities for a college education at communities colleges in Massachusetts — including the new MassEducate program and the MassReconnect program from 2023 — have had a "seismic" effect, said Cape Cod Community College Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing Patrick Stone .

"The interest since its launch a few weeks ago has been unprecedented," Stone said of the MassEducate program.

The school's admissions team has been answering phone calls and meeting new students non-stop with more than 3,000 applications already processed for the fall, he said.

The fall enrollment for the West Barnstable college is expected to be around 3,500, said college Admissions Director Sheila Vaughn. That includes 1,500 new students, Vaughn said. "It's unchartered territory."

Here’s what you need to know:

How do I apply?

Applications for MassEducate for the fall semester at the West Barnstable college are now closed, due to the high volume. But you can apply starting Sept. 16 for the next semester. To apply, you need to fill out a free application to the school and a free financial aid form. Find information about how to apply, visit capecod.edu/free or call or text 774-330-4311.

Who is eligible for the MassEducate program?

Anyone without a prior bachelor's degree is eligible for the program and can earn a certificate or up to two associate degrees. All 15 community colleges statewide, including Cape Cod Community College, are participating.

There are no limits on a student’s age or income level.

Wasn’t community college already free?

No. Massachusetts has had a program since 2023 called MassReconnect , which extends free community college tuition to those 25 or older without a degree. This new program, which builds off that one, removes the age limit and makes free community college open to students right out of high school.

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Are there any other benefits to MassEducate?

The program provides an allowance of up to $1,200 per academic year toward books, supplies and other expenses, based on your household income.

MassReconnect also has a stipend for supplies, up to $600, with no review of household income.

Do people actually take advantage of this program?

Last year, after MassReconnect launched, Cape Cod Community College saw a surge in enrollment, Stone said.

The school saw a 13% enrollment jump in the fall 2023 semester compared to the previous year. That momentum carried into the spring 2024 semester "with a massive 33% enrollment jump compared to the previous year," he said.

"The program was, quite literally, life changing for so many students. With the barrier of cost removed, we saw hundreds of students arrive at our doors that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to make it work," Stone said.

For the Cape specifically, with the free tuition, high school graduates are choosing to attend community college for the first two years of undergraduate training, Vaughn said. Also, older students who want to change careers are applying and people who hadn't thought they could attend college at all due to costs, she said.

"It's a whole new world," Vaughn said. "I think it's going to change the landscape for Cape Cod."

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This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Want to get a free college degree on Cape Cod? Here are two ways to do that.