How To Get Free College in Massachusetts 2027

Getting a college degree might be the next step toward a higher salary and promotion opportunities in your career. Many students dream of getting into a high-quality degree program. Unfortunately, as the cost of living continues to rise and tuition rates increase, earning a degree can feel harder to afford than it did a few decades ago.

Massachusetts has moved further than most states to change that. Community college is now free for residents of any age and any income, and state aid covers full tuition and fees at public four-year campuses for students who qualify. Students can also look into tuition-free online colleges in Massachusetts.

In this article, we’ll walk through the programs available to Massachusetts residents and how to tell whether you qualify. Keep reading to learn how to go to college for free in Massachusetts.

Is Community College Free in Massachusetts?

Yes. Community college is free in Massachusetts for eligible residents, and unlike most state programs, there’s no income limit and no age limit.

The Healey-Driscoll administration and the state Legislature built on MassReconnect, which made community college free for students 25 and older starting in 2023, by creating MassEducate. Together, these programs cover the full cost of tuition and fees at all 15 public community colleges for students of any age and income.

Eligible students may also receive an annual allowance of up to $1,200 for books and supplies based on income, and some qualify for an additional allowance of up to $1,200 toward other costs of attending.

One note on timing: free community college doesn’t apply retroactively to coursework taken before the 2024-25 academic year.

Who Qualifies for Free College in Massachusetts?

It depends on which program you’re using, and Massachusetts is more generous than most states on this point.

For free community college, there is no income requirement. You need to enroll in at least six credits per semester at one of the 15 public community colleges, have lived in Massachusetts for at least a year as of your first semester or qualify as a High School Completer, not already hold a bachelor’s degree, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and not be in default on a student loan. Part-time students qualify.

For MASSGrant Plus at a public four-year campus, eligibility is need-based and tied to Pell Grant eligibility, with partial support extending to middle-income families.

Students who can’t file the FAFSA can apply for state aid through the MASFA instead, so citizenship isn’t a barrier to these programs.

Massachusetts State Financial Aid Programs

Massachusetts funds several programs that cover tuition for residents at public colleges and universities. Which one applies depends on where you enroll, and all of them start with a single application.

Free Community College (MassEducate and MassReconnect)

Massachusetts made community college tuition and fees free through two connected programs. MassReconnect came first in 2023, covering residents 25 and older who hadn’t yet earned a degree. MassEducate then extended free community college to students of any age and any income.

Together they cover the full cost of tuition and fees at all 15 public community colleges. Eligible students may also receive up to $1,200 a year for books and supplies depending on income, and some qualify for an additional $1,200 toward other costs. Awards are made by the colleges at the point of enrollment throughout the academic year, so there’s no single application window to miss.

• Who qualifies: Massachusetts residents of any age or income who enroll in at least six credits per semester in an approved associate degree or certificate program, have lived in the state for at least one year as of their first semester or are a High School Completer, haven’t earned a prior bachelor’s degree, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and aren’t in default on a federal or state educational loan
• Eligible institutions: All 15 Massachusetts public community colleges, and students may attend any of them rather than only a local campus; EMT and paramedic training programs also qualify
• How to apply: Apply to the community college, then file the FAFSA or, if ineligible to file it, the MASFA; there is no additional application for this program

MASSGrant Plus

MASSGrant Plus covers the full cost of tuition and fees for students at Massachusetts public four-year colleges and universities. A 2023 expansion extended it to part-time students for the first time, covered the expected family contribution for Pell-eligible students, and added a books-and-supplies allowance.

The program also reaches middle-income families. Students whose families have an adjusted gross income between roughly $73,000 and $100,000 can see their out-of-pocket tuition and fee costs cut by up to half. MASSGrant Plus does not cover room and board.

• Who qualifies: Massachusetts resident undergraduates at public four-year institutions, with full tuition and fee coverage for Pell-eligible students and partial coverage for qualifying middle-income students; full-time and part-time students are both eligible
• Eligible institutions: The nine Massachusetts state universities and the four University of Massachusetts undergraduate campuses
• How to apply: File the FAFSA, or the MASFA if you’re ineligible to file the FAFSA; all FAFSA filers are automatically considered, and awards are made by the college at the point of enrollment

Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA)

The MASFA is the state’s alternative to the FAFSA for students who aren’t eligible to file it, including undocumented students who meet Massachusetts residency requirements. Filing it opens the same state programs, including free community college and MASSGrant Plus.

Students file either the FAFSA or the MASFA, never both. MASFA filers also need to submit a Tuition Equity Form and Affidavit to their college.

• Who qualifies: Students who are ineligible to complete the FAFSA but otherwise meet Massachusetts residency and program requirements
• Eligible institutions: Massachusetts public higher education institutions, including community colleges, state universities, and UMass campuses
• How to apply: Complete the MASFA online instead of the FAFSA, then submit the Tuition Equity Form and Affidavit to your college’s financial aid office

Tips for Making College Affordable

Even students who qualify for free tuition face other costs, and students who fall outside these programs have options worth pursuing.

File the FAFSA or MASFA First

Every Massachusetts program on this page runs off one of these two applications, and filing is what triggers consideration. File the FAFSA if you’re eligible, and the MASFA if you aren’t. Complete one or the other, never both. Many community colleges run free help sessions for the form, which is worth using if the financial sections are unfamiliar.

Budget Beyond Tuition

Free tuition isn’t free college. Massachusetts programs cover tuition and fees, and in some cases books, but housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses remain yours. Ask your financial aid office specifically about the book and supply allowances and any additional cost-of-attendance allowance you might qualify for, since those aren’t always obvious on an award letter.

Start at a Community College and Transfer

With community college free regardless of income, finishing general education requirements there and transferring to a public four-year campus is the cheapest route to a bachelor’s degree in Massachusetts. The MassTransfer program is designed to make those credits carry over cleanly. Confirm your intended pathway with both colleges before you register.

Search for Outside Scholarships

Colleges, private organizations, and community groups all fund scholarships, and these can be combined with state aid to cover costs the state programs don’t. Free search tools like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and the College Board’s Scholarship Search list awards with a wide range of requirements. Local scholarships from community foundations and employers often have far fewer applicants than national ones.

Ask About Employer Tuition Benefits

Many Massachusetts employers offer tuition reimbursement, and some extend it to part-time staff. Because community college tuition is already covered by the state, employer benefits can often be directed toward a bachelor’s degree instead. Check with human resources before enrolling, since some programs require approval in advance.

Talk to the Financial Aid Office

Massachusetts awards free community college funds at the point of enrollment rather than through a single application cycle, which means the financial aid office is where the real answers are. Staff can tell you which allowances you qualify for, how state and federal aid interact in your case, and what institutional funds exist that you’d never find by searching.

Tuition-Free Colleges in Massachusetts

Students can combine state programs, scholarships, and institutional aid to cut their costs substantially. These schools are among the strongest options.

Bunker Hill Community College

Bunker Hill Community College, with campuses in Boston and Chelsea, is one of the largest community colleges in Massachusetts. Tuition and fees are free for eligible Massachusetts residents through MassEducate, regardless of age or household income.

Bunker Hill has historically participated in Boston-specific programs like the Boston Bridge Program, but the statewide program now reaches well beyond those boundaries. Students outside Boston qualify, and so do students whose income would once have been too high.

Roxbury Community College

Located in Roxbury Crossing, Roxbury Community College offers associate degrees and certificates with free tuition and fees for eligible Massachusetts residents through MassEducate.

As with Bunker Hill, the eligibility gate is residency and enrollment rather than income. Students need at least six credits per semester, so part-time enrollment works for people balancing school against a job.

University of Massachusetts Amherst

UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system. Pell-eligible Massachusetts residents can have their full tuition and fees covered through MASSGrant Plus, along with an allowance for books and supplies, and middle-income students can see costs cut substantially.

UMass has also committed to tuition-free attendance across all four undergraduate campuses for Massachusetts students with family income up to $75,000. Contact the financial aid office to confirm how that commitment applies to your situation.

Salem State University

Salem State University, on the North Shore, is one of the nine Massachusetts state universities, offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees across fields including nursing, education, and business.

As a public four-year institution, Salem State participates in MASSGrant Plus, which covers full tuition and fees for Pell-eligible Massachusetts residents. Roughly 40% of Salem State students are Pell-eligible, making it one of the campuses where the program has the widest reach.

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater State University in southeastern Massachusetts is the largest of the state universities, with strong programs in education, criminal justice, and the sciences.

Bridgewater participates in MASSGrant Plus, so Pell-eligible Massachusetts residents can have tuition and fees fully covered. Students transferring in with an associate degree from a Massachusetts community college can combine free community college with MASSGrant Plus to reach a bachelor’s degree at very low cost.

FAQs About Free College in Massachusetts

Massachusetts changed its financial aid landscape substantially in recent years, and a lot of outdated information is still circulating. These are the questions worth settling.

Is There an Income Limit for Free Community College in Massachusetts?

No. This is the most common misunderstanding about the program. Massachusetts made community college free for students of any age and any income through MassEducate. A student from a high-earning household qualifies for free tuition and fees just as a low-income student does.

Income does affect the extra allowances. The book and supply allowance of up to $1,200 a year is awarded based on income level, as is an additional allowance of up to $1,200 toward other costs. But the tuition and fee coverage itself has no income test.

Do Harvard and MIT Really Offer Free Tuition?

Yes, for families below certain income levels, and the thresholds are higher than most people expect. Harvard made tuition free for students from families earning up to $200,000 beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, with families earning $100,000 or less receiving full coverage including housing, food, health insurance, and travel. MIT announced a comparable policy, with free tuition under $200,000 and no cost at all under $100,000.

The catch isn’t financial, it’s admissions. Both schools admit a small fraction of applicants, so these programs help only students who get in. For most Massachusetts residents, the state programs described above are the realistic path to a low-cost or free degree.

What If I Can’t File a FAFSA?

File the MASFA instead. The Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid serves students who are ineligible to complete the FAFSA, including undocumented students who meet state residency requirements, and it opens the same programs, including free community college and MASSGrant Plus.

File one application or the other, never both. MASFA filers also need to submit a Tuition Equity Form and Affidavit to their college.

Can I Get Free Community College If I Already Took Some College Classes?

In most cases, yes. The disqualifying factor is having already earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, not having taken college courses before. Adults returning after an interrupted degree generally still qualify.

If you’re already enrolled at a community college and meet the other requirements, you qualify going forward. The program doesn’t apply retroactively to classes taken before the 2024-25 academic year.

Does Free Tuition Cover Housing and Food?

No. Massachusetts programs cover tuition and mandatory fees, and in some cases provide allowances for books and supplies. Housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses are the student’s responsibility, and MASSGrant Plus explicitly excludes room and board.

Ask your financial aid office whether you qualify for the additional annual allowance of up to $1,200 that some community college students receive toward other costs of attendance.

Discover Tuition-Free and Affordable College

Massachusetts has gone further than most states on college affordability. Reach out to specific schools to learn more about the financial aid you may qualify for, or explore the resources on Learn.org to find out more about lowering your costs while earing your degree.