MASSGrant Plus Expansion Makes College Cheaper For Some Students
The MASSGrant Plus Expansion, announced late last year, is helping ease the education burden for a number of college students.
The Boston Globe first reported on the news last November. The story includes this statement from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, shared at a ceremony at Salem State University: As many as 25,000 students who attend the state’s public community colleges, state universities, and the University of Massachusetts will benefit from the new program funding, she said.
So let’s pop over to the MA Office of Student Financial Assistance website and get the details. If you’re a Pell Grant student who is receiving MASSGrant Plus aid with an expected family contribution, you no longer have to pay that federally-determined expected family contribution to enroll at any Massachusetts public college or university. Think Salem State, UMass and the like.
MASSGrant Plus Expansion Makes College Cheaper For Some Students
So what does that mean? It means tuition and mandatory instructional fees will be covered by the Pell Grant aid you’re receiving. What’s more, students that are eligible for Pell Grants will also have access to up to $1200 in allowances to cover books and supplies. If you’re a student, you don’t need me telling you how quickly those expenses can pile up from semester to semester.
There are some limitations, however. Room and board costs for students who live on campus are not covered under this new program. Still, at a time where higher education is more expensive than ever, it’s good to know that there’s a new way to offset some of that cost. To check your eligibility, learn more, and apply if you’re eligible, visit the MASSGrant Plus Expansion page here. And don’t forget: some college students in MA can get a little financial boost from Metallica‘s All Within My Hands Foundation, too!