Massachusetts Department of Education
The report, "Laying the Groundwork: Building a Policy Roadmap for Massachusetts Public Higher Education," was developed by EdTrust in Massachusetts in partnership with the Collaborative for Higher Education Access & Opportunity (CHEAO). It calls for strategic investments using the $2.98 billion collected through the state's Fair Share surtax in fiscal year 2025.
"After years of underinvestment in public higher education, Massachusetts has begun charting a new course that invests in student opportunity and the Commonwealth's future workforce," said Bahar Akman Imboden, managing director at the Hildreth Institute, one of six organizations contributing to the report.
The report comes as the state faces troubling enrollment trends. While high school graduation rates have risen to 89.2 percent, college-going rates have dropped sharply from 73 percent in 2016 to 63 percent in 2023. The decline is most severe among Latino students, whose immediate college enrollment rate fell from 60 percent in 2015 to 40.6 percent in 2023.
By 2031, nearly 75 percent of jobs in Massachusetts are projected to require education beyond high school, making these enrollment gaps a significant economic concern.
The roadmap outlines four core pillars: Access & Affordability, Student Success & Completion, Degree Value, and Transparency & Accountability. Key recommendations include expanding financial aid, requiring universal FAFSA completion, increasing school counselor staffing, and establishing a centralized education-to-career data system.
Massachusetts has made recent progress through initiatives including MassReconnect, MassEducate, and the expansion of MassGrant Plus. Community college enrollment has increased 38.5 percent since 2022. However, completion rates remain low, with only 35.2 percent of community college students earning a degree within six years.
"Federal cuts to student aid, shifting immigration policies, and new funding restrictions threaten the safety nets and inclusive campus environments that thousands of students depend on," said Jennie Williamson, state director of EdTrust in Massachusetts.
The report notes that affordability gaps persist despite recent investments. The lowest-income students face an average shortfall of approximately $11,000 annually, even with existing aid programs.
The Fair Share surtax revenue is dedicated to education and transportation, providing what advocates call a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to reimagine Massachusetts' public higher education system.
