More than 30 colleges and universities in Massachusetts are now offering free tuition to qualifying students, according to data compiled by MassLive. These include both private and public institutions, with eligibility largely based on household income thresholds and residency status.

The move comes amid increased competition, expanded state aid programmes, and administrative challenges with federal student aid. Colleges have responded by launching tuition-free initiatives to attract and retain students, particularly from low- and middle-income families.

Private universities expand income-based free tuition programmes
A growing number of private universities in Massachusetts are offering free tuition for households earning between $75,000 and $200,000. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are among those covering full tuition and associated costs for students below certain income thresholds.

As reported by MassLive, many of these institutions now bundle additional support such as housing, food, and travel costs into their tuition-free packages.

Public colleges introduce broad-based tuition relief
In the public sector, Massachusetts residents also benefit from multiple tuition-free options. The state’s 15 community colleges offer free tuition and fees to residents who have lived in the state for at least one year and meet other criteria.

Several four-year public universities have also implemented tuition coverage for students from low- to moderate-income households.

As per MassLive, the Worcester State University programme includes access to emergency funds to support students facing financial hardship that may interrupt academic progress.

State programmes and federal form issues impact accessibility
The increase in free tuition programmes is partly driven by the expansion of MassGrant Plus, a state financial assistance programme. In addition, the introduction of Massachusetts’ free community college programme has influenced private colleges to introduce their own tuition-free schemes in order to remain competitive.

Colleges also pointed to prior issues with the US Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. According to MassLive, these complications affected the delivery of aid and prompted institutions to offer more predictable tuition relief options.

Affordability rankings and national comparisons
Despite the new initiatives, data from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) indicates that affordability remains a challenge in Massachusetts. According to federal data released for the 2022–2023 academic year and reported by MassLive, only 54% of public institutions in Massachusetts were considered affordable.

NCAN’s affordability index considered multiple factors, including the total cost for in-state students, emergency expenses, average grant aid, federal loans, work study availability, and expected family contributions.

In the report, Louisa Woodhouse, senior associate of policy and advocacy at NCAN, stated that tuition-free movements will likely improve Massachusetts’ future affordability scores, as quoted by MassLive.

New tuition-free initiatives to begin in 2026
Some of the announced tuition-free programmes will not commence until Autumn 2026, according to MassLive. Institutions have shared timelines for implementation and are preparing to roll out eligibility communications in the upcoming academic years.

With the continued expansion of tuition relief initiatives and state-level support, more Massachusetts students are expected to access higher education at reduced or zero cost in the near future.