The head of the Maine Community College System is urging lawmakers to support the governor’s revised plan to make the state’s free community college scholarship permanent, noting that three proposed changes would cut annual costs by about $2.5 million.
The revisions would apply to students graduating in 2026 and later and bring the program’s yearly cost to roughly $10 million, according to David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System.
“We didn’t seek out these changes, but they are a reasonable and viable way forward to ensure that Maine high school graduates can continue to have this incredible opportunity, and that Maine can remain one of the 30-plus states with a free college program,” Daigler said.
“It’s a matter of staying competitive, of supporting hard-working young people looking to get ahead and investing in the development of our state’s skilled workforce,” he added.
Daigler’s comments come ahead of a public hearing in Augusta on the funding scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20, before the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs.
Mills, who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026, flagged her plan to make free community college permanent in last month’s “State of the State” address.
The proposal for the class of 2026 and beyond would require qualifying students to be Maine residents, with a primary residence in the state for at least 12 consecutive months before admission. (Previously, students only had to live in Maine while enrolled, allowing some individuals to move from out of state and qualify, according to a news release from the Maine Community College System.)
In addition, the scholarship would cover 100% of tuition — but not fees — rather than both. Full-time tuition is $2,880 per year, plus $1,276 in fees. Students will still be required to use all available federal and state grants first, which in many cases will cover their fees.
Eligibility would also be reduced to 150% of program length, down from 200%, giving part-time associate degree students up to three years of scholarship support instead of four.
‘Overwhelming support’
Other provisions would be continued in the revised proposal, including the requirement that students accept all federal and state aid before the free college scholarship funds are applied; that students pursue an associate degree or certificate; and that students enroll no later than two years after finishing high school.
“Between these proposed changes and the overwhelming support we’ve seen across the state, we’re hopeful this will pass in the Legislature and be signed by Gov. Mills in time to benefit this year’s graduating seniors,” Daigler said.
Maine’s seven community colleges serve more than 33,000 people a year through two-year associate degree and one-year certificate programs, short-term workforce training, early college programs, advanced certificate and other learning opportunities.