Photo: Courtesy of Lasell University
NEWTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Lasell University has announced that Massachusetts residents who are full-time, first-time undergraduate students and whose households earn less than $100,000 a year will receive free tuition.
In the announcement on Thursday, the university said the Lasell Tuition Commitment is made possible by combining federal and state grants with Lasell scholarships, and that it’s “designed to make higher education both accessible and transformative for Massachusetts residents.”
Eligibility for the program is renewed annually, as long as students remain in good academic standing, continue to meet financial criteria and are enrolled full-time, according to the university. The program only covers tuition, not room, board and fees.
Additionally, students who want to enroll in the program don’t have to fill out a separate application. The university said students admitted to the school and who submit the FAFSA application by the deadline will automatically be considered.
“For 174 years, Lasell University has been committed to making a college education accessible to as many people as possible,” said Lasell President Eric Turner in a press release. “The Lasell Tuition Commitment ensures that a greater number of talented and motivated students can now pursue their dreams and graduate career ready—without a financial burden.”
The private university in Newton is joining a host of other Massachusetts schools that have launched similar tuition-free programs based on students’ financial eligibility. This includes Brandeis University, Harvard University, Mount Holyoke College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, College of the Holy Cross and all four undergraduate UMass campuses.