UMass Lowell announces free tuition in partnership with MASSGrant Plus

LOWELL – Eligible Massachusetts students with a household income of $75,000 or less will not pay tuition or fees when they enroll at UMass Lowell, Chancellor Julie Chen announced Tuesday.

“High school students and their families are spending this fall narrowing down their college choices or deciding whether they can afford college at all,” Chen said. “UMass Lowell wants to make it clear that Massachusetts residents can afford an excellent college degree.”

She also pointed out that more than 40% of UMass Lowell students are the first generation in their families to attend college.

“The impact of a college degree can be felt by families for generations,” says Chen. “Thank you to our state legislators and the Healey-Driscoll administration for funding MASSGrant Plus and for their investment in the future of students at UMass Lowell.”

UMass President Marty Meehan said all four undergraduate campuses in the UMass system are moving in this direction.

“I am proud that UMass Lowell is highlighting how affordable a UMass education is and appreciate the work that Chancellor Chen and the other UMass chancellors are doing to make Massachusetts families and students aware of that reality,” Meehan said.

“Over the past decade, the UMass System has increased university-funded financial aid by 73% to a record high of $409 million annually,” he said. “This UMass-funded financial assistance, enhanced by the historic expansion of MASSGrant Plus by the Healey-Driscoll administration and the Legislature, has made it possible for all undergraduate campuses to reduce tuition and mandatory fees for our neediest students cover.”

“There are few stronger long-term investments that Massachusetts students and their families can make than a degree from UMass Lowell,” said Tom Golden, Lowell city manager and UMass Lowell graduate.

Lowell’s state elected leaders also praised the program.

State Senator Ed Kennedy said, “This is a great program for families in my Senate district. I commend UMass for using the tools made available at the state level to ensure educational opportunities for local families.”

“UMass Lowell continues to find ways to make campus more accessible to the community and programs like these provide a great opportunity for working families to send their children to college,” said Rep. Vanna Howard.

State Rep. Rodney Elliott said, “Programs like MASSGrant Plus ensure that a world-class college education here in Lowell is financially feasible for those who might never imagine themselves in college.”

Eligible students who qualify for the MASSGrant Plus program will have total tuition and mandatory fees covered through a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid. Eligibility and registration details are available at mass.edu/osfa/programs/massgrantplus.asp.