With deteriorating demographics heralding the coming decrease in the college-age population, coupled with the increasing cost of a higher-education degree, it’s not surprising that many behind those ivy walls warn of trying times ahead.

To that, you can add the education disruptions at all levels caused by the COVID pandemic.

While state government could do little about the 2008 Great Recession that’s reportedly behind the detectable decline in births, or a novel, worldwide virus that upended social interaction, it can ease the financial burden of a college education.

Massachusetts, which took concrete steps to make a post-secondary degree more affordable, has begun to see the benefits of that decision.

The Healey-Driscoll administration has announced that preliminary data from this fall show that the number of students attending Massachusetts’ public colleges and universities has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The undergraduate student headcount at the state’s system of 29 public two- and four-year colleges and universities has grown 5.7% since last fall, reaching nearly 175,000 students.

Most notably, community college enrollment growth, up 11.4% over last fall, has contributed significantly to the systemwide increase.

That’s because cost no longer represents a barrier to attaining that two-year degree.

The launch of the MassReconnect program in the fall of 2023 allowed students 25 and older to attend community college for free, while MassEducate, included in the state’s fiscal 2025 budget, extended free community college for everyone, regardless of income level.

As a result, since fall 2022, community college enrollment has grown 38.5%, an increase of 23,977 students, for a total fall 2025 enrollment of 86,321.

And compared to fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment across Massachusetts’ nine state universities remained consistent, while enrollment across the four University of Massachusetts undergraduate campuses rose 0.8%.

Considering those demographic headwinds, that’s a positive development.

Massachusetts also has doubled state financial aid in recent years, with the fiscal 2026 budget committing nearly $400 million to these programs. Because of these investments, eligible Pell Grant recipients in Massachusetts now receive free tuition and fees at all public two- and four- year colleges and universities.

“… A college degree opens the door to greater earnings for graduates throughout their lifetimes, while ensuring that our employers have highly-skilled talent to fill in-demand positions,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “I’m grateful for the partnership of the Legislature as we work together to make Massachusetts more affordable and the best place to live, learn, work and build a future.”

Senate President Karen Spilka, one of the governor’s key legislative partners in this endeavor, also praised the enrollment gains produced by eliminating cost as a determining factor in pursuing a college degree.

“When the Senate created MassEducate and emphasized the importance of record investments in financial aid, these are exactly the results we hoped to see,” said Spilka.

Let’s hope the advantages of a community college degree continues to attract the type of individuals who can fill the skilled needs of the state’s private employers.

Sentinel and Enterprise

Editorial cartoon by Joe Heller (Joe Heller)