For too many young workers, getting a degree or the skills they need to get ahead can feel next to impossible. It seems like there are endless barriers for our next generation of workers to take the next step — time, money, family commitments, outdated laws, you name it.
In Massachusetts, we’re changing that, eliminating one of the biggest barriers for students and creating more opportunity by making community college free for students age 25 and older.
In 2022, I ran for Governor promising to make community college more affordable for our residents to address the ongoing worker shortage and increase access for those looking to continue their education in our state. In my first budget as Governor, we have done exactly that.
We’re making historic investments in higher education affordability, including nearly $230 million for Massachusetts students to graduate from college debt free through MassReconnect and other financial aid expansions. This significantly expands scholarships for low-income, in-state undergraduate students attending our public colleges or universities. And with MassReconnect starting this fall, Massachusetts students 25 and up will have the full cost of tuition and fees covered, and receive an allowance for books and supplies, at any one of our 15 stellar community colleges across the state. For many, this is the first step towards essential skills training, a good paying job, even a lifelong career.
The largest group of Americans dragged down by student debt are young people between the ages of 25-34. Graduating debt-free will allow these young, talented students to take the next step in their career while supporting our economy, keeping our workforce strong, and boosting enrollment at our community colleges across the state.
We’re also supporting young people pursuing health care careers with over $38 million in free community college programs for nursing students. And we’re delivering more than $140 million in student loan repayment to nearly 3,000 primary care and behavioral health providers.
Like the rest of the country, Massachusetts was not immune to the worker shortage brought on by the pandemic. A lack of healthcare workers can have critical consequences for patients and entire communities. By supporting our healthcare students, we’re taking steps to strengthen the healthcare workforce and ensure the next generation of healthcare industry leaders are ready to hit the ground running after they graduate and fill thousands of openings across the state.
But that’s not all. We’re using every tool at our disposal to better support our students and strengthen the pipeline of young workers ready to kick-start their futures after they graduate, no matter what field they work in.
My budget injects funding into pathway programs so our high school students have the skills, tools, and resources to succeed on the career or college path of their choice. We increased funding for early college, innovation career pathways, apprenticeships and other workforce development programs across the state to help expand access to on-the-job training. And we launched the MassTalent initiative to boost workforce training in industries like clean energy, healthcare, and manufacturing to train our next generation of workers and ensure those openings are filled.
While we’re investing in ways to help our students graduate debt-free, strengthen our workforce, and boost our economy, Republican-led states across the country are turning their backs on young, talented Americans who just want to work hard, start their own families, and build a life.
Instead of investing in careers, MAGA politicians are pushing dangerous and extreme restrictions on reproductive health care, LGBTQ+ rights, and other personal freedoms, which are harmful for our communities’ health and wellbeing, our democracy, and our economy
Young professionals, healthcare workers, college professors and others are rightly concerned with the growing threats to their personal freedoms in states like Florida, Indiana, and Texas. They are seeking new homes in states that won’t restrict their rights to privacy or essential reproductive health care.
My message to them is simple: If you’re a young person living in a state that restricts your freedoms and looking to take the next step in your career — without having to worry about debt or your freedoms being restricted — please know that in Massachusetts, we see you, we value you and we welcome you.
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