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Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

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Over the past several years, Massachusetts has rolled out a series of policies intended to increase student enrollment in and completion of two-year and four-year colleges by making them more affordable to a wider range of students. These include MASSGrant Plus (need-based financial aid for undergraduate students), MASSGrant Plus Expansion (income-based assistance for undergraduate students), MassReconnect (free community college for students aged 25 or older), and, most recently in 2024, MassEducate (free community college for all eligible students). WEPC is partnering with the DHE to leverage rich data on student enrollment, completion, financial aid, and labor market outcomes to study the implementation and impact of these statewide investments in postsecondary education.

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Early Returns: Reversing Enrollment Declines in Massachusetts Community Colleges through MassReconnect
Postsecondary, College access & affordability, College enrollment, Educational opportunity
Early Returns: Reversing Enrollment Declines in Massachusetts Community Colleges through MassReconnect
Postsecondary, College access & affordability, College enrollment, Educational opportunity

Analysis of Massachusetts MassReconnect free community college program. Evaluates enrollment impact, student demographics, financial aid distribution, and persistence rates for free tuition initiative targeting adults 25+. Policy brief for states considering free college programs.

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Postsecondary, College access & affordability, College enrollment, Educational opportunity