Senator Elizabeth Warren calls for student loan debt relief in Fall River
Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke about student loan relief to a group of education experts from the American Federation of Teachers in Fall River.
Although it is only a week old, the state’s new MassEducate program, which offers free tuition at all state community colleges, has already generated significant interest at Bristol Community College.
Kate O’Hara, Bristol’s vice president of student services and enrollment management, said the college is already preparing for fall and spring admissions with the program in mind.
She said the opportunity to start college debt-free is a huge win for people on the South Coast who may have felt like a graduate school education was too much for them – MassEducate can open them up to new fields of study or new careers.
“Students and families so often associate college with debt that people avoid it,” O’Hara said. “Now free college is luring people in.”
“We are in a student debt crisis”: Elizabeth Warren calls for expanded student loan forgiveness amid Fall River ‘crisis’
What is MassEducate? Why is community college “free”?
On July 29, Governor Maura Healey signed the $57.78 billion state budget for 2025, which includes $93.5 million for the MassEducate program.
MassEducate is funded by the Fair Share Amendment, commonly known as the “millionaire tax.” Voters in 2022 approved an additional 4% tax on income over $1 million to be spent on education and transportation.
The program makes access to community college free for all 15 schools across the state and offers students who meet income guidelines a $1,200 scholarship for books and materials.
It builds on MassReconnect, a program launched in 2023 that allows people ages 25 and older without a degree to attend community college for free. MassEducate closes that gap between high school and age 25.
Who can use the MassEducate program?
There are some rules:
- You must have resided in Massachusetts for at least one year
- You must have a high school diploma or equivalent
- You must not have already obtained a Bachelor’s degree or higher
- You must enroll in at least six credits of a qualifying associate degree or certificate program
- You must have a good academic reputation at the school
O’Hara said that at Bristol, six credits is about two courses per semester, which is doable for most local students who would use the program, who may be working or raising children.
“With those six credits, they don’t have to feel overwhelmed with a full-time course load,” O’Hara said. “They can try out a few courses.”
Important dates: When do classes start at Bristol Community College?
Although it is free, the students do not give up
For some, the typical college experience means partying or lounging around. Since there’s no direct financial risk, people may wonder if those who use MassEducate would do the same. Why take courses seriously if they don’t cost any money?
Based on one year of MassReconnect data, O’Hara said, “We’re actually seeing the opposite.”
“This allows students to focus on their coursework without having to worry about whether they will have to work an extra shift to pay tuition or how they will balance their work time and their studies,” O’Hara said.
She said the past year of MassReconnect has shown that the students who used the program are committed to their studies. Bristol serves a diverse population of low-income students, adult learners, first-year students who often have multiple jobs or family obligations.
She said that now that tuition fees are less burdensome, they can finally get a better education.
“Students really want to improve their lives. That’s the point of MassEducate and MassReconnect,” O’Hara said. “We want to improve our communities, train our workforce and give back to our communities by upgrading and upskilling. We’re finding that people really want to do more for their families and earn more, maybe change careers.”
Program ideal for change or career change
Individuals with an associate’s degree can also take advantage of the program. This opens the door for people seeking a career change in nursing, business, cybersecurity, or other programs needed in the local job market.
Those who want to transfer to a four-year college can make significant savings by paying nothing for the first two years of study, O’Hara says.
“Students and families, the most important thing is … they don’t want to graduate with debt,” O’Hara said. “They don’t want to be burdened with debt right from the start.”
“If you want to transfer, you can save tens of thousands of dollars by completing the first two years at Bristol Community College and then transferring. At the end of the day, you’ll get the same degree.”
Studying debt-free: Massachusetts makes community colleges free for everyone nationwide
How to apply for free community college
O’Hara said students who want to use the MassEducate program should fill out the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and apply for a degree or certificate program.
She said Bristol has a program where students meet with a counselor to clarify their goals, whether it’s a job or a four-year degree, and to determine what students need to stay engaged. One less thing to worry about is how they’re going to pay the bill.
“I think this will be the most monumental thing I’ve ever done in my entire career,” she said. “I can’t imagine anything bigger.”
