MassEducate
Holyoke Community College is now Free!*
No matter your age or income: community college is now free* in Massachusetts!
The MassEducate and MassReconnect programs allow eligible* Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree to attend Holyoke Community College for free.
No tuition. No fees. And both programs include an allowance for books and supplies for certain students.
To be eligible* for MassEducate or MassReconnect, you must:
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- If you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA and are an approved "High School Completer" under the Massachusetts tuition equity law, you can complete the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) and still attend for free.
- Apply to Holyoke Community College and enroll in an approved program of study. Applications are open all year long and there's never an application fee. Classes start September 3, 2024.
- Have physically resided in Massachusetts for at least one year, as of the start of your first enrolled term.
- Have earned a high school diploma or the equivalent.**
- Are enrolled in at least six credits (usually two classes) per semester in an approved program of study leading to an associate degree or certificate.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the college's requirements.
Learn more about how Free Community College in Massachusetts works in our Student FAQ.
**Early college, high school, and dual enrollment students are not eligible for MassEducate.
MassEducate and MassReconnect are last-dollar financial aid grant awards that are applied to a student's account after all other state and federal financial aid and grants are applied.
All students are subject to program guidelines and must maintain eligibility throughout the course of their studies to continue to receive financial aid through MassEducate and MassReconnect. Full program guidelines will be forthcoming.
Students who receive MassEducate or MassReconnect awards who are later found to be ineligible, for any reason, may be billed for disbursed funds
