Free Community College is Here!No matter your age or income—community college is now FREE in Massachusetts! Free Community College allows Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree to attend any of the state’s 15 community colleges and pay no tuition or fees. The program includes an allowance for books and supplies for certain students, based on income and enrollment. Eligibility To be eligible for free college, you must: Complete the FAFSA If you are not eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (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. Complete the FAFSA Complete the MAFSA Apply to GCC You must also enroll in an approved program of study—college is only free if you are completing a degree or certificate. Explore Programs Apply Online Reside in Massachusetts You must have physically resided in Massachusetts for at least one year as of the start of your first enrolled term. Enroll in a minimum number of credits To receive the benefit, you must be enrolled in either six (6) credits (usually two classes) per semester in an approved program of study leading to an associate degree or certificate courses that meet the initial training requirements for emergency medical technical and paramedic certification, regardless of credits earned Maintain satisfactory academic progress Federal and state regulations require that all financial aid recipients maintain specific academic standards called Satisfactory Academic Progress or SAP. 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. 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. Final program guidelines for the 2026-2027 academic year will be forthcoming. Students who receive Free Community College awards who are later found to be ineligible for any reason may be billed for disbursed funds. Next Steps Ready to get started with free college? New Students Apply Online Current Students Complete the FAFSA Complete the MAFSA