Columbus State Community College, facing a greater-than-expected budget deficit, is undergoing layoffs and belt-tightening this semester to balance its budget. The college's financial problems mirror challenges facing many community colleges as they deal with pandemic-related enrollment dips,

Whitmer is proposing that community college be tuition-free for every high school graduate. The move would save students an average of $4,000 while they earn an associate’s degree or skills certificate at a community college, her staff says, and help them land a better-paying, high-skill job.

Under the Senate’s plans, the new program would cover community college tuition and fees for all residents, while some could receive a stipend of up to $1,200 to cover books, supplies, and other costs.

The State Senate has unveiled a proposal for free community college tuition as part of the 2025 state budget. View comments

Even in times of economic uncertainty, some investments are worth making, according to state Senate President Karen Spilka. That was the message Spilka shared on Monday after she appeared at Middlesex Community College’s Lowell campus to announce the upper chamber’s plan to provide a free college education to every Massachusetts resident who wants one.