Though only a week old, the state’s new MassEducate program offering free tuition at all state community colleges has already gained significant interest at Bristol Community College .
Kate O’Hara, vice president of student services and enrollment management at Bristol, said the college is already preparing for fall and spring admissions with the program in mind.
She said being able to start a degree debt-free is a major win for people in the SouthCoast who may have felt a secondary education was beyond them — MassEducate can put new fields of study or new careers within reach.
“Students and families so often associate college with debt that people stay away," O’Hara said. “So now free college brings people to the door."
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What is MassEducate? How is community college 'free'?
On July 29, Gov. Maura Healey signed into law the state’s $57.78 billion Fiscal 2025 budget , which includes $93.5 million for the MassEducate program.
MassEducate is funded by the Fair Share Amendment, known commonly as the “millionaire’s tax.” Voters in 2022 approved levying an extra 4% tax on incomes over $1 million, to be spent on education and transportation.
The program makes community college free at the point of service for all 15 schools statewide. It also offers a $1,200 stipend for books and supplies for students who meet income guidelines.
It builds off MassReconnect, a program begun in 2023 that provided free community college to those age 25 or older without a degree. MassEducate closes that gap between high school and age 25.
Who can use the MassEducate program?
There are some rules:
- You have to be a Massachusetts resident for at least one year
- You must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- You cannot already have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher
- You must enroll in at least six credits toward an eligible associate’s degree or certificate program
- You must maintain good academic standing with the school
O’Hara said at Bristol, six credits is about two classes a semester. That’s manageable for most local students who’d take advantage of the program, who may be working or raising kids.
“With that six credits, they don’t need to come in and feel overwhelmed with a full-time course load," O’Hara said. “They can try a couple of courses.”
Dates to know: When do classes at Bristol Community College begin?
Even though it's free, students aren't slacking off
For some, the stereotypical college experience means partying or slacking off. With no direct financial risk involved, people might wonder if those taking advantage of MassEducate would do the same. Why take classes seriously if they don't cost you money?
Based on data from a year of MassReconnect, O’Hara said, “We’re actually seeing the opposite.”
“It’s allowing [students] to focus on doing their coursework, not worrying about picking up an extra shift to pay tuition or how to fit in work hours and studying,” said O’Hara.
She said the past year of MassReconnect showed that students who used that program were committed to their studies. Bristol serves a diverse population of lower-income students, adult learners, first-generation college students, often with multiple jobs or family responsibilities.
With one less burden of paying tuition, she said, they felt getting a better education was finally doable.
“Students are really trying to better their lives. That’s the whole point of MassEducate and MassReconnect," O’Hara said. “We’re trying to better our communities, and educate our workforce, and really give back to our communities by upscaling and educating. We’re finding that people truly want to do better for their families and earn a better wage, maybe find a career change.”
Program ideal for transferring or changing careers
Those with only associate’s degrees can also use the program. This opens the door for people looking to change careers, in nursing, business, cybersecurity, or other programs needed in the local workforce.
For those looking to transfer to a four-year college, paying nothing for the first two years of schooling can mean significant savings, O’Hara said.
“Students and families, the number one thing is ... they don’t want to graduate with debt, " O’Hara said. “They don’t want to be saddled with that right when they’re starting out.
“For those that want to transfer, they can save tens of thousands of dollars if they do those first two years at Bristol Community College and then transfer. It’s the same degree at the end.”
A degree debt-free: Mass. makes community college free for everyone statewide
How to apply for free community college
O’Hara said students who want to use the MassEducate program should fill out the FAFSA, or Federal Application for Federal Student Aid, and apply to a degree or certificate program.
She said Bristol has a program where students meet with an adviser to tease out their goals, whether that’s a job or a four-year degree, and to determine what students need to stay committed. One less thing to worry about is how they'll be able to pay the bill.
“I think this is going to be the most monumental thing I do in my entire career," she said. “I can’t imagine anything bigger than this."
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Free tuition at Bristol Community College. How is it funded? And will students slack off?
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