MassGrant Plus Expansion

Massachusetts significantly elevated its commitment to higher education in its FY24 budget by leveraging the revenue from the new fair share surtax. The budget not only maintains state scholarships funding at $175.65 million but also injects an extra $147 million into various student aid programs. This includes $84 million for expanding need-based grants, $20 million for Mass Reconnect, $25 million for the High Demand Targeted Scholarship program, and $18 million for a free community college program for nursing students.

The state recently outlined how it will allocate the $84 million grant expansion. Of this, $62 million will boost the MASSGrant Plus Expansion Program, while the rest will support in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented high school graduates in Massachusetts.

This guide is designed with two primary objectives:

First, to clearly outline for stakeholders the operational mechanics of the Mass Grant Plus Expansion program, detailing the intended recipients of the new grant funds.

Second, to conduct an analysis of the program's structure, evaluating its overall impact and identifying potential complexities. These insights will be instrumental in guiding enhancements and optimizations for future program iterations.

Access the full Policy Insight here.