The Shrinking Value of MassGrant

MassGrant is the state’s main program of need-based financial aid. As costs have risen, MassGrant has been cut. These 2 graphs and report from the Department of Higher Education’s FY 2011 Budget Request demonstrate how ” This unmet financial need of students is significant and is almost certainly a deterrent to the pursuit of postsecondary education for […]

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College Costs Very High in Massachusetts

Some key findings include: Only 3 states have higher average in-state tuition at public 2-year colleges than Massachusetts ($4,273 compared to the national average of $2,982). Only 7 states have higher average in-state tuition at public 4-year colleges than Massachusetts ($9,148 compared to the national average of $6,874). And in case you thought our students […]

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Dramatic Increase in Enrollments

Enrollments in 2009-10 at Massachusetts public colleges increased dramatically, especially at the community colleges.  The 7% increase in students in Fall 2009 compared to a year before is unprecedented and comes at the same time that state support has decreased by record amounts.  The Board of Education has compiled the data here.

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Other States Increase Support for Public Higher Education

It’s the recession.  It’s the trend.  It’s the times.  We hear all sorts of reasons why we can’t expect increased investment in public higher education these days.  But wait….look what’s happening in Maryland and in Ohio!  These excellent articles paint a detailed picture of how higher ed communities can come together, make some compromises, and generate tremendous public […]

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US News & World Report: Higher Ed Cuts Worst in Massachusetts

Legislators make choices, and ours have chosen to disproportionately target our public campuses, our students, and our economic future.  Legislators in other states also face difficult choices and they have not all made the same choices. So what does it mean?  Massachusetts spends $5,591 to support the typical in-state student at a public college.  Nationally, […]

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Largest Cut to Public Higher Education in a Decade

PHENOM Criticizes State Budget which Makes the Largest Cut to Public Higher Education in a Decade The budget Governor Patrick signed on June 30 slashes funding for Massachusetts Community Colleges, State Colleges and the UMass campuses by close to $145 million, or almost 15%. This is the largest cut to the state’s public higher education […]

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