Free College is Here for All

Free Community College covers tuition and fees for all students without a bachelor’s degree at any of Massachusetts’ 15 community colleges. 

Students are eligible for Free Community College if they:

• Have not earned a bachelor’s degree* or the equivalent, and
• Meet one of the following requirements:
  • Are a Massachusetts High School Completer which means they:
    • Attended high school in Massachusetts for at least three years
    • Earned a high school diploma or alternative (e.g., HiSET, GED) in Massachusetts

OR

• Are a U.S. Citizen, permanent legal resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations and physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year, as of the start of the enrolled term with an intent to remain in Massachusetts consistent with Board of Higher Education policy

Eligible students must: 

• Apply to MassBay and enroll in an approved program of study leading to a certificate or degree. Applications are open all year long and there’s never a fee to apply. All but two (2) credit-bearing certificates at MassBay are approved for Free Community College. The programs that are not approved for the free college program are: Central Processing Technology and Phlebotomy Skills Program. Unfortunately, non-credit, community education programs are also not eligible for the free college program. 
• Enroll in at least six credits (usually two classes) per semester. 
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if ineligible to complete the FAFSA, the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA).
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with MassBay's requirements.

Certain students, based on income and enrollment, will also receive an allowance of up to $1,200 per year for books, supplies, and other approved costs.

*Students enrolled in courses that meet the initial training requirements for emergency medical technical and paramedic certification are also eligible for Free Community College regardless of prior degree earned or number of credits enrolled.

Free Community College is a last-dollar financial aid grant award that is applied to a student’s account after all other state and federal financial aid and grants are applied.

All students are subject to program guidelines and must maintain eligibility throughout the course of their studies to continue to receive financial aid through the Free Community College program. All students must complete the current FAFSA or MASFA to be considered eligible. 

For the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters, students must complete the 2026-2027 form; a new financial aid application must be submitted each academic year for continued funding.

Program guidelines for the 2026-2027 academic year are available online.

Students who receive Free Community College awards who are later found to be ineligible for any reason may be billed for disbursed funds.

Students may be eligible to earn credit for past work experience or life skills. Learn more about MassBay’s credit for prior learning program.

In-state tuition rates are not financial aid. In-state tuition rates are discounted tuition rates that charge eligible students less to attend college. Students may be eligible to receive these discounted tuition rates regardless of whether they apply for federal or state financial aid. The in-state tuition rates result in less charges on a student's account and total cost of attendance than if they were charged the full cost of tuition.

To access in-state tuition rates at MassBay, there are two pathways:

• Massachusetts High School Completer Status (M.G.L. c. 15A, § 9 par. 5)
  • Attend high school in Massachusetts for at least 3 years
  • Earn a high school diploma or alternative (e.g., HiSET, GED) in Massachusetts
  • Submit required documentation to the institution
• Board of Higher Education Residency Status Policy
  • Reside in Massachusetts for at least six months for community colleges or one year for state universities and the University of Massachusetts (with parent or legal guardian, if dependent)
  • Be a U.S. citizen or lawful immigrant ( BHE Motion FAAP 07-24); or authorized by the federal government to live and work in the United States on a temporary or permanent basis ( BHE Motion FAAP 16-20)
  • Submit required documentation to the institution

To be eligible for most types of financial aid, students must complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). Students should only complete ONE financial aid application.

Students must only submit ONE application. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in substantial delays to financial aid application processing and may potentially impact the applicant's state financial aid award.

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you are a U.S. Citizen or eligible noncitizen. More information on FAFSA eligibility for eligible noncitizens is available on the Federal Student Aid website.
• Complete the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) if you meet ALL of the following criteria:
  • Are ineligible or unable to complete the FAFSA and
  • Are not present in the United States on a visa or immigration status within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(A-S); and
  • Attended three years of high school in Massachusetts and

Earned a Massachusetts high school diploma or equivalent (i.e., GED, HiSet)