Governor Mills Signs Supplemental Budget at EMCC, Making Free College Scholarship Permanent

BANGOR, ME - With a scratch of the pen and surrounded by e-vehicles and cars in an automotive bay at Eastern Maine Community College, Governor Janet Mill made the Maine Free College Scholarship permanent for high school graduates in the Class of 2026 and beyond.

"This is a once-in-a generation moment for Maine's higher education landscape," Maine Community College President David Daigler said. "This gives future high school graduates the means and opportunity to pursue a path they may have felt was financially out of reach. And 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."

The Maine Free College Scholarship covers 100% of tuition for recent high school graduates who are Maine residents and are pursuing a degree or certificate program at a Maine community college. It's a last-dollar program, after federal and state grant aid is applied. The scholarship, which applies to the Class of 2026 and beyond, is a slightly scaled-back version of a Maine Free College Scholarship program proposed by Mills and launched in fall 2022.

The Maine Free College Scholarship language was included in the supplemental budget signed Friday by Mills. It's rare to have a bill signing not at the Capitol; Mills office believes this is the first one signed off-site.

"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.

To qualify for the Free College Scholarship, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent, enroll no more than two years after graduating , pursue an associate degree program or one-year credential, be a Maine resident and live in Maine while enrolled, and accept federal and state grants before the Maine Free College scholarship is applied.

The Free College Scholarship is offered in addition to multiple other tuition waiver or free college opportunities at Maine's community colleges, such as free early college classes for Maine high school students and a wide assortment of free short-term workforce training programs that take just weeks or months to complete.

Full-time tuition at Maine's community colleges is $2,880/year.