Free Community College covers tuition and fees at QCC for students who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. The program includes an allowance for books and supplies for certain students, based on income and enrollment.
| Massachusetts Free Community College |
| Covers all course-related tuition and fees for eligible courses |
| Provides an allowance of up to $1200 per academic year towards books, supplies, and other expenses, based on household income. Actual allowance amount varies by enrollment. |
Students are eligible for Free Community College if they:
- Have not earned a bachelor's degree* or the equivalent, and
- Meet one of the following requirements:
- Are a Massachusetts High School Completer, which means you:
- Attended a high school in Massachusetts for at least three years, and
Earned a high school diploma or alternative (e.g. HiSET, GED) in Massachusetts
OR
- Are U.S. Citizen, permanent legal resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations and physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year, as of the start of the enrolled term with an intent to remain in Massachusetts consistent with Board of Higher Education policy.
- Are a Massachusetts High School Completer, which means you:
Eligible students must:
- Apply to Quinsigamond Community College and enroll in an approved program of study. Applications are open all year long and there’s never a fee to apply.
- Be enrolled in either:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually or, if ineligible to complete the FAFSA, the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA).
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the college's requirements.
*Students enrolled in courses that meet the initial training requirements for emergency medical technical and paramedic certification are also eligible for Free Community College regardless of prior degree earned or number of credits enrolled.
Free Community College is a last dollar financial aid grant award that is applied to a student’s account after all other state and federal financial aid and grants are applied. Once awarded, students will be required to complete a Degree Status Affirmation form on The Q to verify eligibility before funds will be disbursed to their account.
All students are subject to program guidelines and must maintain eligibility throughout the course of their studies to continue to receive financial aid through the Free Community College program.
All students must complete the current FAFSA or MASFA to be considered eligible. For the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters, students must complete the 2026-2027 form; a new financial aid application must be submitted each academic year for continued funding.
Program guidelines for the 2026-2027 academic year are available online.
Students who receive Free Community College awards who are later found to be ineligible for any reason may be billed for disbursed funds. Students are still charged tuition and fees for the semester and will be responsible for any balance owed that cannot be covered through these programs.
Learn more about this program
Reach out to Us
For questions, please reach out to QCC's Financial Aid Office.