The newly established adult college reintegration program has already proven its value – Sentinel and Enterprise

Lisa Tohline, 52, a Middlesex Community College student from Billerica, spoke at a news conference in May about the Senate’s $75.5 million proposal to make community college free for all state residents and told how she was finally able to get a college education starting this year thanks to the MassReconnect program. (Peter Currier/Lowell Sun)

It coincides with the anniversary of the passage of Governor Maura Healey’s first state budget, which allocated $20 million to launch a back-to-school program that is already bearing fruit.

That’s when Healey signed the MassReconnect program, which gave thousands of state residents ages 25 and older the opportunity to attend community college for free.

And in the nearly 12 months since then, more than 4,500 people have received grants from MassReconnect.

Healey saw MassReconnect as a way for people who don’t have an associate’s degree to pursue higher education. The governor’s bill would have allowed prospective students in that age group to attend one of Massachusetts’ 15 community colleges for free.

The program addressed an overlooked but sizable demographic: the more than 1.8 million Massachusetts residents in this age group who have a high school diploma or equivalent but no college degree.

And according to Healey’s office, in 2020, nearly 700,000 Massachusetts residents had only some college degrees and no degrees, many of them over the age of 25.

In particular, MassReconnect is a viable option for anyone who is 25 years of age or older on the first day of the course, has lived in Massachusetts for at least one year, and has a high school diploma or equivalent but has not yet completed a college degree.

In addition, prospective students must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be enrolled in at least six credits in an associate degree or certificate program at a community college.

Students receive assistance from MassReconnect after applying for all other forms of state and federal financial aid. MassReconnect’s messaging and information campaigns support these adults in pursuing higher education that may not have been possible for them otherwise by introducing them to other state and federal financial aid programs, such as the federal Pell Grant.

MassReconnect supports students for up to four years from initial admission or until completion of an associate degree, whichever occurs first.

“We are pleased that in the first year of MassReconnect we were able to attract thousands more students ages 25 and older to our great community colleges,” said Governor Healey. “This is a ticket to economic mobility, giving students the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in today’s economy and meet the demands of our employers.”

In fact, this program enables students to complete their education and receive training for in-demand jobs in a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and mental health.

Overall, last year’s data show that 8,411 new nontraditional students – older than the usual 18- to 22-year-old age group – enrolled in state community colleges in the program’s first year, representing about a 45% increase in that age group over 2023.

Almost half of this number registered via MassReconnect.

State data show that a significant number of historically marginalized groups use community colleges. Of those 8,411 students, more than 1,600 new students identified as Black or African American and nearly 2,000 new students identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Enrollment at state community colleges increased 8% in 2024, a sign of growth after a decade of declining college admissions.

A well-known public educator recognized the value of this opportunity at its early stages, especially at the local level.

Phil Sisson, president of Middlesex Community College, believes such a program would have a tremendous impact on the residents of Greater Lowell, especially communities of color.

Sisson estimates that about 19 states currently offer free community colleges of some kind, so it seemed like an appropriate time for Massachusetts to join them.

In emerging industries such as cybersecurity, manufacturing and early childhood education, the MassReconnect program will be of great importance to local communities, Sisson said.

“It’s really about getting students to graduate, enter the workforce and break the cycle of poverty, and that’s what we’re seeing in the city of Lowell,” Sisson said after learning the details of MassReconnect last year. “So this is a really important initiative that is consistent and consistent with the college’s equity program, and that’s critical.”

Many of MCC’s roughly 7,500 students – in Lowell and Bedford – have two or three jobs unrelated to their field of study, Sisson said, which is another reason why this state funding is so important.

“This is a real opportunity to reopen the community college, which has been something of a hidden gem in the Massachusetts state system, and say, ‘We’re here,'” he said.

And proof of MassReconnect’s success was evident this May at Middlesex Community College’s graduation ceremony, where Sisson said 91 of the graduates enrolled through MassReconnect.

There is a movement in the legislature, particularly in the Senate, to make community college free for all. This seems like a luxury, especially for those without the life experience of older adults who are working and raising a family.

For them, MassReconnect makes perfect sense – and hopefully also offers them the economic security that comes with a better-paying job.