BOSTON – The proposed budget from the Massachusetts Senate for the 2025 fiscal year includes free community college for all. There have been proposals for those over the age of 25 by the governor, but this line item would allow anyone to go to community college for free. 

“We know that education really can help transform, transform lives, so having that access is just an incredible opportunity for us,” said Cristina Wynn, the interim vice president at Berkshire Community College. 

The Senate is using revenue brought in by the millionaire’s tax to fund the proposal. The total for the program comes in at $117 million.  

The 15 community colleges in the state are also getting a budget increase of 9% on par with what is going to the state’s four-year universities. 

In the past, critics of free community college education have said they worry it could take students away from four-year schools, but according to the surveys Berkshire Community College conducts, it’s not likely the demographic of students they'll pull from.

“What I can tell you from, from our data here at Berkshire Community College, that that students who choose not to come to us are actually not going to another school. They're choosing not to go to college, so they're choosing to go likely right into the workplace,” said Wynn. “So from our perspective, we don't see this as taking away from another school, but actually adding value to the lives of students and families who were not previously planning on accessing a higher education at all, for whatever the reason might be.”

The goal of the bill is to bolster the workforce and to create a seamless program to allow students to transfer to a four-year school if they choose. 

The Senate’s budget debate will start in two weeks. The program would need to make it past reconciliation with the House as well.