MassBay Launches Apprenticeship Degree Program to Meet Urgent Workforce Needs

MassBay Community College Wellesley Hills campus drone photo by MassBay STEM student Julio Aguilar, Wellesley Hills, MA, October 2025 (Photo / Julio Aguilar).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Liz Cooper
ecooper@massbay.edu

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (March 31, 2026) — MassBay Community College is one of six Massachusetts community colleges launching apprenticeship degree programs that combine paid, on‑the‑job training with academic coursework. The programs provide students with direct pathways into high‑demand careers while helping employers address critical workforce shortages across the Commonwealth.

MassBay began enrolling students in its Behavioral Health apprenticeship degree program in fall 2025 with 33 currently enrolled students. The program will expand to include Medical Assisting in summer 2026 and Extended Certified Nursing Assistant in fall 2026.

Through this innovative earn‑and‑learn model, students gain hands‑on experience with employer partners while earning college credit and a paycheck. Apprenticeship degrees expand access to post-secondary education for students who need to work while they learn and offer employers a reliable, local pipeline of skilled talent aligned with workforce demand.

“MassBay is committed to educating and training the workforce of tomorrow, ensuring students have the skills needed to fill critical talent gaps,” said MassBay President David Podell. “Healthcare is a growing sector that requires well‑trained professionals to keep our communities healthy and thriving.”

While apprenticeship degrees are new in Massachusetts, the model builds on a proven approach long used in the skilled trades and adapts it for fields with urgent and sustained workforce needs. The six Massachusetts community colleges are receiving funding through multi‑year grants as part of a statewide initiative backed by more than $6 million from the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation and Accelerate the Future. The funding is accelerating the launch of apprenticeship degree programs across the Commonwealth.

One student commented on their experience at MassBay, “Through the program, I was connected to South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC), where I first started working as an Engagement Specialist. Now, I am working as a Care Coordinator in Behavioral Health. This is a completely new field for me and being able to work while earning academic credit has been amazing. I was able to apply what I was learning in class directly to my work, and that gave me confidence in what I was doing. It made the learning feel real and meaningful, and it helped me grow both personally and professionally.”

Participating institutions include MassBay Community College, Bunker Hill Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, Middlesex Community College, North Shore Community College, and Northern Essex Community College. MassBay is among the first institutions to enroll students, with additional colleges launching programs beginning in fall 2026.

More than 30 employer partners are participating statewide, including healthcare providers, human services organizations, and public school systems. Apprenticeship degrees support recruitment, upskilling of incumbent workers, and improved retention in high‑turnover roles, while offering strong returns on investment for employers.

Interest in apprenticeships continues to grow nationwide. In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey has set a goal of registering 100,000 apprentices by 2036 across industries including healthcare, technology, construction, manufacturing, and education.

Research shows that earn‑and‑learn models improve student retention, completion, and post‑graduation earnings, making apprenticeship degrees a high‑impact strategy for advancing economic mobility and strengthening the state’s workforce.

“By aligning education directly with labor market demand, apprenticeship degree pathways expand opportunity for students, support employers, and help keep Massachusetts competitive,” said Nate Mackinnon, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges.

For more information about MassBay’s apprenticeship programs, email apprenticeships@massbay.edu .

MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston and is free to most Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree. With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, along with comprehensive workforce and educational training, MassBay provides a wide range of courses with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Wellesley, Framingham, the Automotive Technology Center in Ashland, and online, in high-demand fields including health and life sciences, computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, business, and the humanities. MassBay students receive unparalleled value, with free one-on-one academic and social support services, compassionate and experienced faculty, and stackable credits that easily transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and that provide hands-on, workforce-ready skills. Health sciences, human services, early childhood education, and many general education programs are offered at the 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art MassBay Framingham, which has served the community since January 2024. Founded in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by multiple governing bodies and remains dedicated to serving its diverse communities, fostering inclusiveness, and advancing equity for all.