Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Public Higher Education Enrollment Has Returned to Pre-Pandemic Levels

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Public Higher Education Enrollment Has Returned to Pre-Pandemic Levels 

Governor Healey’s continued historic investments in free community college drove 11 percent enrollment increase this fall – a 39 percent increase since 2022 

 

BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that preliminary data from this fall shows that the number of students attending Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities has returned to pre-pandemic levels. The undergraduate student headcount at the state’s system of 29 public two- and four-year colleges and universities has grown 5.7 percent since last fall, reaching nearly 175,000 students. Community college enrollment growth, which is up 11.4 percent over last fall, has contributed significantly to the systemwide increase.  

 

“It’s great that our efforts to make college more affordable are allowing more students to pursue higher education,” said Governor Maura Healey. “A college degree opens the door to greater earnings for graduates throughout their lifetimes, while ensuring that our employers have highly-skilled talent to fill in-demand positions. I’m grateful for the partnership of the Legislature as we work together to make Massachusetts more affordable and the best place to live, learn, work and build a future.” 

 

“Our administration is proud to have doubled state financial aid to make college possible for more students,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This enrollment growth shows that our investments in college affordability are paying off, and that will have lasting positive benefits for Massachusetts.”    

 

Since fall 2022, community college enrollment has grown 38.5 percent, an increase of 23,977 students, for a total fall 2025 headcount of 86,321. These increases follow the launch of Governor Healey’s MassReconnect program in fall 2023 that made community college free for students 25 and older and MassEducate, signed into law by Governor Healey in the state’s fiscal year 2025 budget that made tuition and fees for community colleges free for all students regardless of age and income level. Compared to fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment across Massachusetts’ nine state universities stayed consistent, while enrollment across the four University of Massachusetts undergraduate campuses rose 0.8 percent.  

 

“Getting more students to college is a win. We’re not only closing gaps in affordability, but we’re also closing information gaps by visiting high schools and running awareness campaigns to tell students about these free and affordable college programs,” said Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “We’re working hard to get more students to enroll in college, succeed, and access all the benefits that come with having a higher education.” 

 

“While students continue to confront many barriers along their higher education journey, we have made meaningful strides in improving access and opportunity,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “These enrollment gains underscore what can be achieved through a shared commitment among the Governor, administration leaders, the Legislature, faculty, staff, and campus leadership — and through the determination of students who invest their time and talent in pursuit of a college credential.”  

 

Massachusetts has doubled state financial aid in recent years, with the Fiscal Year 2026 budget committing nearly $400 million to these programs. As a result of these investments, Pell Grant eligible students in Massachusetts receive free tuition and fees at all public two- and four- year colleges and universities, and community college is free to all, regardless of income level.  

 

“Today’s data prove that when we open doors to opportunity in Massachusetts, our residents walk through them,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “When the Senate created MassEducate and emphasized the importance of record investments in financial aid, these are exactly the results we hoped to see. I couldn’t be prouder to see renewed investment reignite enrollment in our public colleges and universities, and I look forward to seeing the careers that grow from it." 

 

“The state's ongoing commitment to supporting historic investments in higher education is clearly making a difference for students and families across the state,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I'm proud of the House's work, in partnership with the Healey-Driscoll Administration, expanding access to affordable, high-quality learning opportunities that have helped more residents gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed. These strong enrollment gains reaffirm our commitment to building a stronger, more equitable Commonwealth through lifelong learning.” 

 

“Massachusetts has invested heavily in financial aid and college affordability, because we want all residents to have access to our world class higher education institutions,” said Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education. “I am so pleased to see enrollment rebound to pre-pandemic levels — clear proof that our investments in students are working. I look forward to building on this momentum.” 

 

“Working with the Healey Administration, the House invested in a big way to make higher education more affordable," said Representative Dave Rogers (D-Cambridge), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education."Now, we are beginning to see the results. The big enrollment surge is great news for the students taking advantage of this remarkable opportunity, and for the Commonwealth as a whole.” 

 

DHE’s enrollment and success report is available here. The report also highlights updated success metrics for the community college, state university, and University of Massachusetts (UMass) segments. Success metrics include the most recently available six-year graduation rates for students who entered college in 2018 and fall-to-fall persistence and on-time credit accumulation for students who have entered in recent years. 

 

“This enrollment data suggests that Massachusetts’ affordability initiatives are enhancing access to higher education and outperforming national benchmarks. Almost 2,000 Massachusetts community college students transfer to a UMass campus each year, and with the success of MassReconnect and MassEducate we hope to see that number grow substantially in the coming years,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “UMass is focused on better serving community college students who want to earn a four-year degree by advising them earlier in the process about course taking and making them feel welcome on our campuses long before they finish their associate’s degree.” 

 

"I am encouraged by the recent enrollment numbers which is the result of vigorous efforts by our campuses and the many investments in public higher education by the legislature and Healey-Driscoll administration,” said Dr. Linda Thompson, Chair of the State of Massachusetts Council of Presidents, and President of Westfield State University. “Despite the debate on the importance of higher education, and questions on the return on investment of a college degree, these numbers show how individuals within the Commonwealth truly value what higher education has to offer. Because of the attention paid to innovation, financial aid expansion, free tuition, and other investments in student success, I am confident the future will be bright for public higher education in Massachusetts, which translates into prosperity for our residents, and economic growth for our region.”  

 

“The early enrollment report confirms that Free Community College is working exactly as intended,” said Dr. William Heineman, president of North Shore Community College and chair of the Community College Council of Presidents. “The simple message that community college is free is resonating with students and driving enrollments for the third fall in a row. After another impressive year of enrollment growth – with nearly 24,000 new students on our campuses since fall 2022 – we are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll administration and the legislature for their strategic investments in our students.” 

 

Today’s announcement follows the administration’s launch of “Go Higher,” a new brand and awareness campaign that aims to increase exposure to higher education, improve the information pipeline, and build awareness of financial and institutional supports that help students see themselves in college. The campaign aligns with the administration’s Advisory Council for the Advancement of Representation in Education (ACARE) recommendations that centered on increasing access, equity and support for underserved and underrepresented students across Massachusetts.