Governor Baker Launches Tuition-Free College Program
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Charlie Baker
The new program, called The Boston Bridge, will allow low-income students to complete a four-year degree without having to pay tuition and mandatory fees.
It will be open to all 2017 high school graduates who live in the City of Boston, including students from Boston Public School, charters, and parochial schools.
“College affordability too often serves as a barrier for students in the Commonwealth seeking to complete a degree, and this program is intended to provide more opportunities for a quality education. We are pleased to partner with the City of Boston on this important pilot and will keep pursuing ways, like the Commonwealth Commitment, to create a runway for all students to get a quality and affordable education that can unlock a bright future,” said Governor Baker.
The Boston Bridge
While students attend community college, the City will cover the costs for tuition and mandatory fees, after taking into account Pell grants and discounts and credits from the Commonwealth Commitment program.
Once a student earns an associate degree, they can transfer to a Massachusetts public college or university to complete their bachelor’s degree within two years.
While they are enrolled in a public four-year institution, the City and the Commonwealth together will cover the costs for tuition and mandatory fees, excluding room and board.
Eligibility for the Program
Students must meet federal Pell grant income standards to qualify for the program, and must enroll full-time at either Bunker Hill Community College, Roxbury Community College, or Mass Bay Community College.
They will be required to complete their associate’s degree within two-and-a-half years, before transferring to a Massachusetts public college or state university.
Students who enroll in The Boston Bridge must major in one of the Mass Transfer pathways, which ensures that credits earned in any community college are accepted at any public four-year institution.
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