This fall, students heading to Northern Essex Community College, as well as the 14 other Massachusetts community colleges, may be eligible for additional financial aid, thanks to a boost in financial aid funding proposed by the Baker-Polito administration and included in the state’s FY19 budget recently enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor.
The new MassGrant Plus represents the first significant expansion of the state’s signature financial aid program in more than two decades, and, for the first time, part-time students are eligible, providing they are taking at least two courses totaling six credits per semester.
Made possible by an additional $7.5 million in funding, MassGrant Plus will provide “last dollar” funding to bridge the gap between a low-income community college student’s federal, state and institutional financial aid awards, and the total cost of tuition and fees.
“At Northern Essex, nearly 68% of our students are part time,” said Lane Glenn, president of Northern Essex. “In many cases our students are working one or more jobs, supporting a family, and enrolled in two or more classes. This MassGrant Plus will make it much easier for them to continue their education.”
“We’re very pleased that Governor Baker and the legislature are moving so decisively to invest in our community college students,” said Carlos E. Santiago, Massachusetts commissioner of higher education. “We’re hopeful that with increased financial assistance we’ll see more students able to complete their degree programs and move into good jobs or continue on to earn bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges and universities.”
To be eligible for MassGrant Plus for the fall 2018 semester, students must apply for financial aid, using the standard 2018-19 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), by November 1, 2018.
For additional information on NECC financial aid call 978 556-3700, email sfs@necc.mass.edu or visit the college’s financial aid website.
With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth. Each year, close to 8,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley. For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.
