Massachusetts Approves First Three-year Bachelor’s Degree Pilot Programs, Adding to Affordable College Options

Massachusetts Approves First Three-year Bachelor’s Degree Pilot Programs, Adding to Affordable College Options 

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) today approved applications from Merrimack College and Suffolk University to pilot three-year applied bachelor’s degrees starting in the fall 2027 semester. These programs add to a growing slate of more affordable college options in Massachusetts, including free community college, free and more affordable public four-year degrees, and expanded Early College programs that allow students to earn college credits at no cost in high school.   

Merrimack will pilot 96-credit versions of its bachelor’s degrees in business administration, communications, criminal justice, and psychology; and Suffolk will pilot a 94-credit applied bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration and innovation.    

“Three-year degrees will make it more affordable for students to graduate and get the skills they need to succeed in today’s workforce,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Congratulations to Merrimack and Suffolk on the approval of these innovative pilot programs. We look forward to monitoring their impact and pursuing more strategies to lower the cost of education for all of our residents.” 

“The future of our economy and workforce require exploring affordable new pathways to degrees and credentials,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “The Board of Higher Education has opened the door to innovation while maintaining program quality and consumer protections, which allows us to see the impact of new approaches here in Massachusetts.” 

Merrimack College and Suffolk University’s three-year degree programs were approved earlier this year by their accreditor, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), on the condition that the programs would also be approved by the BHE.  

The pilot programs are required by NECHE and DHE to be referred to as “applied bachelor’s” degrees, distinguishing them from traditional bachelor’s degrees. Students also sign disclosure forms upon applying, which ensure they acknowledge the pilot nature of the program and possible impacts related to future federal financial aid eligibility, graduate school, and employer perceptions.  

The pilot programs must adhere to the innovation regulations and additional conditions put forth in the Board motions. Institutions are required to share annual reports on the pilot programs that include data on areas such as enrollment, finances, and assessment of progress in meeting student learning outcomes. DHE will develop an additional evaluation rubric and will be engaged in a NECHE review within two years.   

The Merrimack and Suffolk programs were proposed under new regulations the Board adopted in February allowing Massachusetts’ public and private colleges and universities to propose pilot programs that increase the effectiveness of higher education, but may require the Board to waive one or more of its other regulations on degree-granting authority. The Board’s existing regulations require that bachelor’s degrees in Massachusetts include at least 120 credits, amounting to the traditional four-year degree, and the innovation regulations opened the door for the Board to consider three-year bachelor’s degrees, in line with what other states across the country are doing. 

“Massachusetts has made historic investments in state financial aid, and we are continuing to look for additional ways to make high-quality college pathways more affordable for students,” said Secretary of Education Steve Zrike. “We want more residents to access college, complete their degrees and graduate ready to launch their careers, and that requires both strong investments and new ideas. With a measured, thoughtful approach to welcoming and piloting new ideas, Massachusetts is well positioned to maintain our leadership in innovation and higher education.”  

“Many students need to launch their careers sooner to support themselves and their families, and these pilots explore how we can grow options for being career-ready in a way that reduces costs and time to degree,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “After closely reviewing Merrimack and Suffolk’s pilot proposals and engaging with the institutions, the Department determined that all proposals fully meet the criteria laid out by the innovation regulations, which were carefully crafted to uphold program quality, consumer protections and transparency. We look forward to continuing to engage with these institutions as program outcomes become available.”  

 “With affordability as a top priority, we must continually consider responsible, innovative approaches to growing higher education opportunity and strengthening our talent pipeline in the Commonwealth,” said Board of Higher Education Chair Chris Gabrieli. “These pilot programs offer pioneering approaches that preserve core values of a broad general education and a deep expertise in a chosen major and they are structured with careful guardrails addressing consumer protection and a commitment to thorough evaluation to determine their impact and value. If they prove successful, they offer the potential for immediate benefit for participating students and longer-term impact on our understanding of a potential new pathway choice for students who seek it in the future." 

The BHE began discussing sub-120 credit bachelor’s degrees at its December 2024 meeting, and in 2025, the Board held discussions on how to allow for responsible exploration, which formed the foundation of the innovation regulations. DHE engaged with stakeholders to finalize the draft regulation, and on October 28, 2025, the BHE voted to open a public comment period. The Board voted to approve the innovation regulations on February 10, 2026.  

Initial pilot program approval is limited to a maximum of five years and may be subject to conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board. The Board may also extend or shorten the conditional approval time period based on an evaluation of the pilot under the innovation regulations, which will take into account sufficient time and data to assess the impact and success of the pilot.