PORTLAND (WGME) — The free community college program in Maine, which has allowed thousands of students to attend college without cost, is set to end.
High school students graduating in 2025 will have two years to use the scholarship, but the class after that will be ineligible.
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The program, introduced by Governor Janet Mills in 2022, provided scholarships for students to attend one of Maine’s seven community colleges at no cost.
Payson Avery, a graduate of Southern Maine Community College, expressed disappointment over the program’s conclusion.
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“It definitely disappoints me to see this program go,” Avery said.
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He shared that the program gave him the courage to pursue higher education after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his plans.
“Without the free college program, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do that experience,” Avery said.
State lawmakers decided not to continue funding the scholarship in the state budget, a move that Maine Community College President David Daigler described as devastating.
“To see opportunities disappear for the students from the class of 2026 and beyond, it’s really devastating for those families and for those communities,” Daigler said.
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He notes that the program had led to the highest enrollment ever at Maine community colleges, with 20,000 students.
“In all regards, the foundation for this program was very solid, and it was benefiting the state of Maine,” Daigler said. “It was benefiting young people. It was benefiting our employers. We were getting a more educated workforce.”
A statement from the Governor’s Office sent to CBS13 Friday said, “The Governor remains a strong supporter of free community college for Maine high school graduates. Since the Governor introduced this program in 2022, free community college has prepared thousands of Maine students for good-paying careers and supported numerous Maine employers by providing the workforce they need to grow and thrive. The Governor will continue to advocate for free community college in the future.”
