All four undergraduate UMass campuses announced plans to make a UMass education free for Massachusetts students who demonstrate the greatest financial need.
Starting Fall 2025, tuition and mandatory fees at all UMass campuses will be fully covered for undergraduate students from households earning $75,000 or less through a combination of federal, state, and university-funded financial aid. The campuses announced the tuition and fee-free pledge to remove barriers to college and simplify the cost for students and families with the greatest financial needs.
"These programs are highlighting how truly affordable a UMass degree is, and I applaud our UMass chancellors for their efforts to ensure students and families are aware of that fact,” said UMass President Marty Meehan. “Since 2015, the University of Massachusetts system has made record investments in university-funded aid, boosting it by 80 percent to $422 million annually. Our record institutional aid combined with the historic expansion of state financial aid through MASSGrant Plus by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Legislature, have made it possible for all undergraduate campuses to cover the costs of tuition and mandatory fees for our highest-need students."
Over 60% of all financial aid awarded to UMass students comes directly from UMass. Federal financial aid represented 16 percent of aid in FY2025, followed by state funding at 16 percent and other private funding at 7 percent.
“I hope that this announcement makes clear to students and families how affordable a UMass education can be for those with the greatest need, and that’s true at all of our campuses,” President Meehan said in an interview with the Boston Globe.
Read on to learn about each campus’s tuition-free initiative:
With UMass Amherst Advantage, a world-class higher education is more attainable than ever. Beginning with the Fall 2025 semester, if your household earns an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less, you can qualify to attend UMass Amherst at no cost for tuition and mandatory fees. At UMass, you can explore hundreds of majors and programs, join dynamic clubs, and find belonging and connection in a supportive campus community.
If you're a Massachusetts resident with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less, you may qualify to attend UMass Boston for $0 in tuition and mandatory fees.
Beacon Pledge is UMass Boston's promise to keep higher education affordable for Massachusetts residents. The Beacon Pledge program seeks to remove financial barriers and demystify the cost of college.
The UMass Dartmouth Deal is a program designed to provide financial support to in-state, undergraduate students from families with an annual income of $75,000 or less. Our mission is to ensure that talented students can pursue their education without the burden of tuition costs, making higher education accessible for all qualified individuals.
Eligible MASSGrant Plus program qualifying students with family incomes under $75,000 will have tuition and mandatory fees covered through a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid. UMass Lowell is able to continue offering this assistance to students in Fall 2025, thanks to continued support for the program from the state.
