The state of Massachusetts is expanding financial aid programs that will benefit over 20,000 students in the Bay State, according to Gov. Maura Healey.
That expansion, said Healey, will help about 25,000 students attending the state's public community colleges, state universities and the University of Massachusetts.
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With about $62 million in new program funding, the governor said the MASSGrant Plus Expansion program will cover tuition, fees, books and supply costs for Pell Grant-eligible students. It will also reduce out-of-pocket expenses for middle-income students by up to half.
"For so many Massachusetts residents, higher education can be the ticket to their future career and economic stability," said Healey at Salem University Wednesday morning. "This expansion of MASSGrant Plus will open doors for more students to access higher education, which will strengthen our economy as a whole."
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While the MASSGrant Plus Expansion program will cover the full cost of tuition and fees for eligible students, room and board are not included, said Healey. Students will also receive nearly $1,200 for books and supplies.
She said the program will be retroactive to the start of the fall 2023 semester for students who are currently enrolled.
Students who have yet to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) application are encouraged to do so immediately, Healey said. Those who have completed their application don't have to do anything.
Healey said the program will invest almost $61.7 million of additional state funding into public higher education students. The funding for MASSGrant Plus Expansion, she said, will come from the $84 million earmarked for financial aid expansion in the FY24 budget.
The rest of the money will be used to implement Massachusetts' new tuition equity law that allows qualifying undocumented students who completed high school in the Commonwealth to access state financial aid, said the governor.
"We're grateful to our legislative partners for making this funding available and look forward to our continued collaboration to make Massachusetts more affordable," said Healey.
For more information about the program, visit mass.edu.
