SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Emery Sloat, 20, is a second-year student at Springfield Technical Community College going for his associate's degree in physical therapy.

What You Need To Know

  • Emery Sloat, 20, is a second-year student at Springfield Technical Community College going for his associate's degree in physical therapy.

  • He briefly attended a university in Connecticut after graduating high school, but the physical therapy program there would require several years of school and would be a financial burden for him and his family.

  • At STCC, Sloat is using the state’s MassEducate program for his schooling. He is a native of West Springfield and a student ambassador on campus. 

  • The recently passed program allows younger Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree to attend any of the state's community colleges tuition-free.

The West Springfield native hopes to one day help his community.

"Because I'm always trying to help people out around campus. Seeing through the student activities," Sloat said. "I just look forward to helping people heal without pharmaceuticals which is definitely a major challenge in this modern era."

It’s been a challenging journey for Sloat.

He briefly attended a university in Connecticut after graduating high school.

But the physical therapy program there would require several years of school and would be a financial burden for him and his family.

At STCC, Sloat is using the state’s MassEducate program for his schooling.

The recently passed program allows younger Massachusetts residents without a bachelor’s degree to attend any of the state's community colleges tuition-free.

"I paid for the first year; it ended up being around $5,000," he said. "Compared to Western Connecticut State University which I blew through my whole college fund that my parents saved up. It was about $25,000 for the year."

This year, Sloat has also picked up a job at STCC as a student ambassador — something he wasn't able to do last year while managing school.

"It's been a great year so far," he said. "Definitely night and day compared to last year where I was just in and out and more on the grind. This is still a grind but it's more laid back and more social."

On Friday, Sloat spent most of his morning at the school library studying for his kinesiology class.

Not having to worry as much about the cost of higher education, Sloat says being able to focus more on college now has been life-changing and says he hopes more people can take advantage of the state program.

"Money's tight nowadays," he said. "Inflation is crazy, milk, eggs, everything is expensive. So if we could find an alternative to paying that as seen though colleges and stuff like that I think it's definitely a good opportunity."