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QCC Expects to Award Free College to Hundreds Under State’s New MassReconnect Program
Contact: Karen Hutner
Office of Institutional Communications
khutner [at] qcc.mass.edu
Release Date:
8/15/2023
WORCESTER, MA— August 15, 2023 — Quinsigamond Community College is poised to award free college tuition, fees and an allowance for books and supplies to hundreds of new and returning students for the Fall 2023 semester under Massachusetts’s new MassReconnect program that makes community college free for eligible Massachusetts residents aged 25 and older.
Governor Healy recently signed the FY 2024 $56 billion budget, with $20 million allocated to the state’s 15 community colleges for the MassReconnect program as an effort to improve access to higher education. According to the state, there are 1.8 million Massachusetts residents with a high school diploma or equivalency but no degree and close to 700,000 Massachusetts residents who have some college credit but no degree.
“The MassReconnect program is a giant step forward in our quest for equity in higher education. By offering equitable opportunities and resources for our students, many of whom are juggling one or more jobs and caring for their families, we are bettering our entire community,” said QCC President Luis G. Pedraja, Ph.D. “Obtaining a higher education is a way for people to advance a career, change careers and make a better life for themselves and their families. MassReconnect is going to be a gamechanger for so many.”
“While QCC is prepared to include over 400 currently enrolled students in this no-cost college program pending their applications for financial aid, QCC is expecting many more eligible students to apply for the fall semester,” said Michelle Tufau, vice president for Strategic Enrollment and Student Engagement.
Individuals aged 25 and older qualify for the program if they have not previously earned an associate or bachelor’s degree and have been a legal permanent resident of Massachusetts for one year as of the start of classes. Students must complete the 23-24 Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) and enroll in at least six credits per semester in an approved program of study leading to an associate degree or certificate. To learn more, visit QCC.edu/Massreconnect, or visit one of the information sessions QCC is hosting during its Super Saturday event on Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Sessions will run 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. (Spanish presentation), or 12:00 p.m.
Visit www.QCC.edu/supersaturday.
Quinsigamond Community College is the most affordable higher education in Worcester County. As a regional leader in education and workforce development, QCC serves the diverse educational needs of Central Massachusetts by providing affordable, accessible, and high quality programming leading to transfer, career, and lifelong learning.