Maine’s new state budget, signed by Gov. Janet Mills on Friday, locks in free community college as a permanent benefit for high school graduates starting with this year’s senior classes.
“This biennial budget should send a clear message to every young person in Maine: If you are willing to work hard and build your future here, Maine is ready to invest in your success,” Mills said at Friday’s ceremony, held at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor.
The Free Community College program covers 100% of tuition for recent graduates pursuing a degree or certificate at a community college.
Annual full-time tuition at Maine’s community colleges amounts to $2,880, according to the Maine Community College System.
As a last-dollar program, the scholarship — a scaled-back version of a program launched in 2022 — aims to cover tuition costs not met by federal and state grant aid.
“This is a once-in-a-generation moment for Maine’s higher education landscape,” said David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System.
“This gives future high school graduates the means and opportunity to pursue a path they may have felt was financially out of reach,” he added. “Now that it’s a permanent program, a generation of young people can move with confidence and intention toward a brighter future for themselves and Maine.”
According to Mills’ office, this is the first bill signed away from the Capitol in Augusta. The Democrat, who took office in 2019 as Maine’s first female governor, is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Scholarship details
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, enroll within two years of graduating, pursue an associate degree or one-year credential, be a Maine resident and live in the state while enrolled.
Recipients are also required to accept federal and state grants before the scholarship is applied.
Maine’s community colleges serve more than 33,000 students annually. The Free College Scholarship builds on other tuition waivers, including early college for high school students and free short-term workforce training programs.
