Photo: Jared Brosnan/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (State House News Service) — About 10,000 students are newly taking advantage of cost-free community college in the first semester of the new program, Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday.
Joined by lawmakers and higher education leaders to celebrate the no-cost option created in the fiscal 2025 budget, Healey said interest is already high and could swell significantly in the coming months.
Within a year, she said, as many as 45,000 students could be tapping into the ability to attend one of the state's community colleges with no out-of-pocket cost.
While free to students, the costs of the program are significant. Officials have projected the state will pay about $117.5 million this year to cover community college tuition and fees for all students.
Massachusetts Bay Community College President David Podell praised the program as a "revolutionary change in higher education."
In addition to putting higher education in reach for more students, supporters including Senate President Karen Spilka said eliminating costs could help close a worker gap that many employers face by preparing more people for open jobs.
By Chris Lisinski, State House News Service
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