{"id":23217,"date":"2023-08-22T19:46:38","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T23:46:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom2\/2023\/08\/22\/governor-healey-celebrates-tuition-equity-at-northern-essex\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T11:34:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:34:07","slug":"governor-healey-celebrates-tuition-equity-at-northern-essex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/necc.edu\/newsroom\/2023\/08\/22\/governor-healey-celebrates-tuition-equity-at-northern-essex\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Healey Celebrates Tuition Equity at Northern Essex\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lawrence, MA (August 22, 2023) \u2013 Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Senate President Karen Spilka were among those who gathered on the Lawrence Campus of Northern Essex Community College to celebrate Tuition Equity in Massachusetts. They were joined by legislators, advocates, students, and leadership from Massachusetts\u2019 public colleges and universities. The Tuition Equity Bill was included in the FY24 state budget and allows for students without legal immigration status to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid at public colleges or universities in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n

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Governor Maura Healey<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThis is a great day for our state. This is a big step forward for students who have grown up here, worked here, and followed their dreams here in Massachusetts. It\u2019s what is fair and what is right. They\u2019re going to continue their journey on the same terms as their peers,\u201d said Governor Healey.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s celebration is 20 years in the making,\u201d remarked NECC President Lane Glenn, who was a key advocate for the Tuition Equity Bill. \u201cIn that time, and in particular the last few months, a lot of people have contributed their time, talent, and support to this effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several students also attended Tuesday\u2019s event. Joan S. is a General Studies: Health Professions<\/a> major at Northern Essex. She moved to the United States from Tanzania when she was just ten years old. At age 16, she found out she was undocumented, which made her goal of one day becoming a nurse practitioner seem even further out of reach.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn order to apply for the nursing program, I had to take prerequisite classes, which would typically take a person a semester or two to complete; however, it took me years because I had to take one or two classes at a time. Because of my status, these classes cost three times the amount an in-state student pays for tuition,\u201d Joan shared with the audience in a moving speech. \u201cWith the passing of this new bill, I now feel as though I have an opportunity to pursue my education further.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill amends wording to the General Laws to allow in-state tuition and fees to undocumented students who have attended high school in Massachusetts for at least three years and either graduated from a high school in the state or attained the equivalent. It is effective immediately. An estimated 16,000 students in the commonwealth can benefit from this policy change.<\/p>\n

A recording of today\u2019s event can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Students interested in learning more about admissions at Northern Essex should visit the webpage<\/a> or contact enrollmentservices@necc.mass.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t