The Tuition-Free Community College Plan—which pays for up to three years of college for Boston’s income-eligible students—has expanded its pool of participating schools to include Massasoit Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the state.
The fifth college to join the Tuition-Free Community College Plan, Massasoit Community College will provide participants with more options in both locations and programs of study. Massasoit operates campuses in Middleborough, Brockton and Canton, which is within 10 miles of Hyde Park and Mattapan. The addition of Massasoit also makes new associate degree programs available to Tuition-Free students: Diesel Technology; Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning (HVAC); Veterinary Technology; and Architectural Technology. These fields lead to careers that pay well above Boston’s living wage. For example, diesel mechanics and HVAC technicians in the greater Boston area earn salaries of approximately $60,000 on average.
Since its inception in 2016, the Tuition-Free Community College Plan has continued to grow, adding more schools, broadening eligibility requirements, and attracting more applicants each year. A total of 489 students have been accepted to the program, representing a mean household income of less than $25,000 per year. Despite these economic challenges, the Plan’s students have achieved a higher one-year retention rate (78%) than the state or national averages for community college students.
Read the City of Boston press release to learn more.