Secretary Galvin Releases Information on Lower Cost Options for College Students

As high school seniors prepare to go back to school and begin applying to colleges, uncertainty caused by recent changes to student loans programs may have students and parents alike concerned. To assist those looking for ways to achieve a degree without taking on excess debt, Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin’s Citizen Information Service has compiled information about new financial aid programs available to Massachusetts students at public colleges and universities.

The new informational brochure, "Low and No Cost Options for Higher Education" highlights several new programs available through the Commonwealth’s institutions of higher learning. Detailed information is provided about the state’s free community college program, free tuition at state schools for lower income students, and scholarships available for high-achieving community college students transferring to one of the UMass campuses.

"In the last few years, Massachusetts has created several new pathways to affordable learning, but students and their parents may not be aware of these options," Galvin said. "This publication is meant to educate the public about grants and scholarships that may be available, to help alleviate the burden of student loans."

The information is available on Galvin’s website and as a print publication. Teachers and school administrators who wish to receive copies of printed brochures for their classrooms are encouraged to contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Citizen Information Service at
1-800-392-6090 or by email at cis@sec.state.ma.us.