Details Released in New Maine Free College Scholarship Proposal

AUGUSTA, ME - Governor Mills has released details on her plan to make the Maine Free Community College Scholarship permanent, with three changes that are estimated to lower the cost of the scholarship program by $2.5 million, to $10 million per year.

The current scholarship and terms remain in place for the graduates of the high school classes of 2023-25, no matter what the legislature decides this session. The proposed changes are not retroactive and would only apply to the governor's new proposal for the high school graduates in the Class of 2026 and beyond.

"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," said David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System. "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."

A public hearing on the funding is scheduled for 10:00 AM, Friday, Feb. 20, before the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs.

The proposal for the Class of 2026 and beyond would require that:

• Qualifying students must be from Maine, with a primary residence in Maine for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the date of admission. (Previously, students had to be living in Maine while enrolled, which allowed people from out of state to move to Maine and qualify for the scholarship. About 4% of Maine Free College Scholarship students moved to Maine at time of enrollment.)
• The scholarship will cover 100% of tuition costs, rather than both tuition and fees. (Full-time tuition is $2,880 per year, and fees are $1,276 per year). The program continues to require that students accept all federal and other state grant aid prior to accessing Maine Free College funds and many, but not all, students' other financial aid will still cover their fees.
• Qualifying students would have 150% of time, rather than the current 200% of time, to access the scholarship. (Previously, a student pursing an associate degree part time had up to four years of scholarship support. For the Class of 2026 and beyond, that student would only have up to three years of scholarship support.)
  (Source: https://www.maine.gov/budget/home. See QQQ language)

Other requirements from the initial Free Community College Scholarship are continued in the new proposal, including the "last-dollar scholarship" structure that requires students to accept all federal and state aid before Maine Free College Scholarship funds are applied; that students pursue an associate degree or certificate; and that students enroll no later than two years after high school completion.

"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 Governor Mills in time to benefit this year's graduating seniors," Daigler said.

The legislature is scheduled to complete its work by April 15.