Boston - The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that over 34,000 Massachusetts students saved a total of $110 million on college attendance in the 2023-2024 academic year because Governor Healey expanded financial aid. According to new data from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE), middle-income students had their costs of tuition and fees cut in half, saving each student $3,856 a year on average. All low-income students eligible for federal Pell grants had their college tuition, fees, books and supplies fully paid for by state and federal financial aid.

These numbers demonstrate the impact of Governor Healey’s groundbreaking 2023 expansion of MASSGrant Plus, a state financial aid program that serves students enrolled in Massachusetts’ public institutions, including its 15 community colleges, nine state universities, and four University of Massachusetts undergraduate campuses. This expansion was made possible by Fair Share revenue investments in partnership with the state Legislature. 

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is also calling on the U.S. Senate to reject Pell Grant cuts included in the federal budget reconciliation bill, which was recently passed by Republicans in the U.S. House and supported by President Trump. The current bill would slash Pell grant scholarships and restrict eligibility, resulting in 42,000 Massachusetts students at public colleges and universities losing $57 million in federal financial aid per year and will also impact students attending private institutions.

“Massachusetts is home to the best schools in the country, but we need to make sure that they are affordable for all of our students. That’s why I took action to increase financial aid at our public colleges and universities, which has already lowered costs for tens of thousands of students,” said Governor Healey. “But now, Republicans in Congress and President Trump want to drastically cut the Pell Grant program, which will roll back the progress we have made and increase costs for Massachusetts students by $57 million per year. This is bad for our students and bad for our economy, as it would hold back our next generation of workers from being able to afford to go to school.”

“As a Massachusetts public college graduate, I know first-hand the opportunities these campuses offer, and I’m proud that we’ve brought costs within reach for more students and families,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By increasing financial aid, we’ve given more students access to the many doors that our public colleges and universities open, and we’ll have more graduates armed with the skills that are in demand by employers across the state.”  

State Aid Expansion Impact on Middle Income Students

Through MassGrant Plus Expansion, over 7,730 middle-income students had their tuition and fees cut in half in the 2023-2024 academic year. Middle income is defined as families earning approximately $85,000 to $100,000 a year, though this number varies based on multiple factors and students should complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility. This expansion supports students who face financial barriers to college despite their family income being too high to qualify for Pell Grants.

Number of students who had tuition and fee costs reduced by up to half, by segment:  

Public Higher Education Segment	Number of Recipients	Average Student Award
Community Colleges	966	$2,380
State Universities	2,688	$4,101
UMass	4,077	$4,044

 

Public Higher Education Segment	Number of Recipients	Average Student Award

State Aid Expansion Impact on Low Income Students

Over 26,600 low-income students had their college tuition, fees, books, and supplies fully paid for by state and federal financial aid in the 2023-2024 academic year. The expansion of MASSGrant Plus allowed all Pell Grant-eligible students (i.e., incomes of approximately $85,000 a year and less) to have all their tuition and fees paid for, not including housing. Students also received $1,200 allowances for books and supplies. 

Prior to fall 2023, MASSGrant Plus funds were limited and campuses were not able to award financial aid from the program to all Pell Grant-eligible students. Further, part-time Pell Grant-eligible students at public universities were not eligible. The expanded investment made all full and part-time Pell Grant students eligible for MASSGrant Plus and allowed enough funds for all qualifying students to be awarded the grant. 

Number of students who had tuition, fees, books, and supplies paid in full in academic year 2023-2024, by segment:  

Public Higher Education Segment	Number of Recipients	Average Student Award
Community Colleges	8,728	$1,071
State Universities	7,879	$4,041
UMass	10,031	$3,369

 

Public Higher Education Segment	Number of Recipients	Average Student Award

“I am really proud of the impact our financial aid expansion had in the first year. We want to make sure that as many students as possible can access the life-changing opportunities that college offers,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “But I am also deeply worried about the proposed changes Congress has made to Pell grant eligibility and the impact this will have on our low-income students. Low-income students deserve to go to college just as much as their higher income peers, and these changes are going to take us backwards – increasing dropout rates and leaving students saddled with more debt and no degree.” 

“In Massachusetts, students from working class and low-income families do not have to pay tuition or fees at our public campuses thanks to MASSGrant Plus and other state and federal programs,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration financial aid expansion allows students to choose which public college or university best meets their needs and goals, whether it’s one of our 15 state community colleges, nine public universities, or four undergraduate University of Massachusetts campuses.” 

Congressional Proposal to Change Pell Grant Eligibility

Massachusetts’ ability to make college tuition and fee free for more than 26,600 students is due in large part to the role federal financial aid plays in reducing these costs for low-income students. Programs like MASSGrant Plus and free community college close “last dollar” tuition and fee gaps left after federal financial aid, like Pell Grants and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) funds.

The U.S. House-passed reconciliation bill could greatly disrupt the foundation of federal financial aid on which programs like MASSGrant Plus, MassEducate and MassReconnect are built. The bill increases Pell Grant eligibility for the max benefit from 12 credits a?semester?to 15 credits a semester. The bill also increases the base enrollment requirement for Pell Grants from six credits a semester to seven and a half credits a semester.?Both changes require low-income students to take additional courses to maintain eligibility, without providing them with any additional federal financial support. Many students are already juggling work, child care and other responsibilities in addition to school. These changes are estimated to impact over 42,000 Massachusetts public higher education Pell Grant recipients, reducing their federal financial aid by at least $57 million a year and will also impact students attending private institutions.

“Like so many others, public higher education opened doors of opportunity for me, and it has therefore been a top priority for me and the Senate to expand access to public higher education for every single resident of the Commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Whether through universal free community college or greater funding for the state’s MASSGrant Plus and SUCCESS programs, the Senate has been steadfast in expanding opportunities in partnership with the House and the Healey Administration. Education is essential to both our economy and our democracy, and I am committed to continuing to move Massachusetts towards greater participation in higher education, even as it is attacked at the federal level.”  

"Higher education is the pathway to career and economic stability,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “The House is proud to have partnered with Governor Healey to deliver critical funding for the expansion of the MASSGrant Plus program-bolstering opportunities across the Commonwealth. By easing the financial burden of college for working families, we’re investing in the next generation of leaders and innovators, ensuring they have the tools they need to build their futures right here in Massachusetts.”

“I’m thrilled to see this collaborative partnership between the Legislature and the Healey-Driscoll administration produce highly successful and tangible results, where 34,000+ students collectively saved $110 million in tuition and other college expenses. The impact of the expansion of this MassGrant Plus program cannot be emphasized enough, with the impact translating into real savings for public college students all across the Commonwealth. With higher education costs continuing to escalate, this program demonstrates the state’s commitment to a highly educated and motivated workforce economy,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.

Over the past two years, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has grown state financial aid by $200 million. In addition to free and reduced cost bachelor’s degrees, Massachusetts has one of the most comprehensive free community college programs in the country. Students attending private institutions in Massachusetts are also eligible for state financial aid, including MASSGrant and state scholarships. A list of state financial aid programs is available here.  

Students apply for MASSGrant Plus/MASSGrant Plus Expansion by filling out the FAFSA or MASFA. More information is available here. 

Statements of Support

Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education:

“Thanks to the strategic investment of Fair Share funds in MassGrant Plus, Massachusetts eased the financial burden of accessing higher education for a staggering 34,000 students during the 2023-2024 academic year. This investment uplifted students, supported families, bolstered a rising workforce, and strengthened communities. Today, as federal actions threaten equitable access, the Legislature in partnership with the Healey-Driscoll Administration is rightly continuing to break down barriers to the promise of higher education.”

Representative Dave Rogers (D-Cambridge), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Educations:

“In the face of threats to financial aid from the federal government, today’s announcement underscores just how transformational our expansion of MassGrant Plus has been in increasing equity, reducing debt, and expanding access for our students. I want to thank Speaker Mariano and Chair Michlewitz for their strong support for higher education, as well as Governor Healey for her continued partnership in supporting students.”

President Marty Meehan, University of Massachusetts:

“We are grateful for the strong and consistent support we receive from the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Legislature and are incredibly proud of all that we have done together to ensure a UMass education remains affordable and accessible for students across Massachusetts. Since 2015, we have made record investments in UMass-funded financial aid for the benefit of our students, boosting it by nearly 80 percent to $422 million annually. This UMass-funded aid combined with the historic expansion of state financial aid through MASSGrant Plus by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Legislature, have made it possible for all undergraduate campuses to fully cover the costs of tuition and mandatory fees for our highest-need in-state undergraduate students starting this Fall. We are also deeply appreciative to the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their strong advocacy on behalf of the thousands of UMass students who rely on federal Pell Grants and would be harmed by the proposed federal cuts.”

Dr. Linda Thompson, President, Westfield State University, and Chair, Massachusetts State University Council of Presidents:

“The historic investments in higher education by the Healey-Driscoll Administration builds upon Massachusetts’ reputation as being the leader in providing opportunities for its citizens to transform their lives through learning. Expanding financial aid to those in need allows individuals to further their knowledge and develop skills to contribute to an ever-changing work environment, which in turn strengthens families, improves our economy, and provides a healthier, more prosperous society. During this time of federal funding uncertainty, we are grateful for the measures taken by the Healey-Driscoll administration to prioritize the necessity of affordable education opportunities. Investing more, not less, in higher education is a critical element in advancing our communities and securing a healthy future for all citizens.”

Luis Pedraja, President, Quinsigamond Community College and Chair, Community College Council of Presidents:

“The dramatic enrollment increases our community colleges have seen over the last two years make it clear that free community college and expanded financial aid is a game changer for students in Massachusetts. The proposed Pell eligibility changes would be devastating to our students’ ability to afford higher education and the community college presidents in Massachusetts urge the Senate to reject this ill-advised change.”

Max Page, President and Deb McCarthy, Vice President, Massachusetts Teachers Association: 

“The Massachusetts Teachers Association was proud to be an early voice for debt-free public higher education and to play a central role in winning passage of the Fair Share Amendment, which has allowed the Commonwealth to dramatically expand access to public higher education for working-class residents. Access to higher education improves individual lives, drives a prosperous economy, and enriches our civic and artistic culture. We urge members of Congress from every state to consider the drastic harm caused should Pell Grants become harder to obtain and provide less overall support to college seekers. They should talk to members of the Massachusetts delegation about the positive impact Pell Grants have on families, communities and our state economy. It’s time Congress stands up for working families and stops President Trump’s agenda to rob from workers to give to billionaires.  In Massachusetts we believe it is far more productive to increase social and economic mobility to more residents and not burden them with student debt in the process.”

Dr. Bahar Akman Imboden, Managing Director, Hildreth Institute: 

"Massachusetts students have benefited from a doubling of state funding for financial aid since FY22, made possible by Fair Share revenues and strong leadership from the Governor and legislature. This investment has helped reverse enrollment declines by enabling thousands of low- to middle-income, first-generation, and adult learners to pursue a postsecondary degree tuition-free. That progress is now at risk due to federal proposals to restrict eligibility and cut the Pell Grant. These changes would undermine affordability for the students who need support the most."

Rahsaan D. Hall, President and CEO, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts:

“Efforts to turn back the clock on racial justice have never been more blatant. Undermining the systems that have helped students of color access higher education is a deliberate attempt to weaken our nation and further marginalize communities of color. In Massachusetts, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has made historic strides in expanding college affordability through initiatives like MASSGrant Plus. When combined with federal Pell Grants, these programs have enabled tens of thousands of low- and middle-income students-many of them students of color-to attend college without the burden of overwhelming debt. However, proposed changes to the federal Pell Grant program would threaten this progress. By increasing credit hour requirements to maintain eligibility, without increasing financial support, these changes would disproportionately harm students who are already balancing school with work, caregiving, and other responsibilities. The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts stands with the Healey-Driscoll Administration in opposing these harmful changes to the Pell Grant program. We urge the U.S. Senate to protect access to higher education for all students and preserve the foundation of opportunity that federal financial aid represents.”

Yvette M. Frisby, President & CEO, Urban League of Springfield:

“Expanding access to state financial aid has been a game-changer for the students and families we serve; opening doors to opportunity, stability, and long-term success. At the Urban League of Springfield, we see firsthand how critical this support is for low- and middle-income students. Any federal changes that undermine Pell Grants would be devastating to our community. We strongly urge the U.S. Senate to reject these harmful proposals.”

Kate Adams, Hunger Free Campus Coalition:

"Preliminary findings from The Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham's 2025 Food Access report found nearly 40% of community college and public university students faced food insecurity at some point last year.? At a time when so many federal basic needs programs are under threat, we cannot afford to lose access to financial aid resources that open doors to success for so many students."