Massachusetts offers need-based state aid through MASSGrant and MASSGrant Plus, and free community college for residents through MassEducate and MassReconnect. MASSGrant Plus can cover remaining tuition and fees for income-eligible students, and MassEducate makes community college tuition-free for Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. You apply by filing the FAFSA, or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) if you are not eligible for federal aid.
If your student attends college in Massachusetts, these programs can lower the cost at four-year schools and eliminate tuition at community colleges. Here is how they work for 2026-27.
What state financial aid does Massachusetts offer?
Massachusetts's main need-based programs are MASSGrant and MASSGrant Plus, plus the MassEducate and MassReconnect free-community-college initiatives. They are run by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at the Department of Higher Education. Together they help both four-year and community college students.
These work alongside federal aid like the Pell Grant. For how the federal pieces fit together, see our complete 2026-27 financial aid guide.
What are MASSGrant and MASSGrant Plus?
MASSGrant and MASSGrant Plus are need-based grants for income-eligible Massachusetts residents attending college in the state. MASSGrant provides a base need-based award, while MASSGrant Plus expands the help, and for community college students it can cover any remaining tuition and fees after your federal aid is applied. Both are for undergraduates who file on time and demonstrate need.
Because the two programs work together, eligible students often receive a combined award. File early, since aid is limited.
Is community college free in Massachusetts?
Yes, for most residents. MassEducate makes community college tuition-free for Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree, and MassReconnect does the same for residents age 25 and older. Eligible students may also receive MASSGrant Plus funds as part of the package, and some support can go toward books and supplies. These programs stay open through the year rather than closing on a single date.
For how free tuition fits a full plan, see our guide to paying for college.
How do you apply for Massachusetts state aid?
You apply by filing the FAFSA, or the MASFA if you are not eligible for federal aid, and the state uses it to determine your awards. For priority consideration of state aid, submit the MASFA or FAFSA before May 1, 2026, though the free-community-college programs remain available later. There is no separate application for MASSGrant.
Your step-by-step path:
- File the FAFSA, or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) if you are not eligible for federal aid.
- Submit by the May 1 priority date for the best shot at state grant aid.
- Confirm your Massachusetts residency and eligibility at OSFA.
- Track your college's own aid deadlines.
Your next step
Massachusetts helps at four-year schools through MASSGrant and MASSGrant Plus and makes community college free through MassEducate, but filing the FAFSA or MASFA is the key step. File by the May 1 priority date, confirm your residency, and check OSFA for current rules. Read our complete 2026-27 financial aid guide for the federal side, then create your free CollegeLens plan to see your real cost at each Massachusetts school.
You're doing the hard, smart work of claiming every program your state offers. That is how Massachusetts families make college more affordable.
-- Sravani at CollegeLens