In the span of just over a month, three private colleges and the entire University of Massachusetts system announced it would begin free tuition programs to attract students to their schools. But why now?
Competition is part of the reaction, responding to other institutions such as the state’s new free community college program. The expansion of the state financial assistance program MassGrant Plus and the delay of the form for federal aid, also known as the Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are other reasons, according to college officials.
“We’re trying to be competitive against private universities who are discounting at larger rates every single year,” UMass President Marty Meehan said.
Read more at MassLive.
