Maine Governor Janet Mills celebrates signing the supplemental budget that includes a provision for making the Maine Free College Scholarship permanent in Maine, surrounded by college and high school students at Eastern Maine Community College. Courtesy of MCCS.
BANGOR, Maine (SMCC/MCCS) — Governor Janet Mills has signed legislation making the Maine Free College Scholarship permanent for high school graduates in the Class of 2026 and beyond, ensuring continued access to tuition-free community college across the state.
“This biennial budget should send a clear message to every young person in Maine: if you are willing to work hard and build your future here, Maine is ready to invest in your success,” Mills said.
“This is a once-in-a-generation moment for Maine’s higher education landscape,” said David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System. “This gives future high school graduates the means and opportunity to pursue a path they may have felt was financially out of reach. And now that it’s a permanent program, a generation of young people can move with confidence and intention toward a brighter future for themselves and Maine.”
At Southern Maine Community College, the program has expanded access to higher education and is helping prepare students for Maine’s workforce.
“Making free community college permanent is a generational investment in Maine’s future and a powerful statement about the value we place on opportunity,” said Kristen Miller, SMCC president. “It sends a clear message that we believe in our students and their potential, while also strengthening the workforce our state needs to grow and thrive. At SMCC, we see every day how access to affordable education transforms lives, and we are proud to help open those doors and support Maine students as they build their path forward.”
The Maine Free College Scholarship covers 100 percent of tuition for eligible recent Maine high school graduates pursuing an associate degree or certificate at one of the state’s community colleges. The program operates as a last-dollar scholarship, meaning students must apply all available federal and state grant aid before the scholarship is applied.
Beginning with the Class of 2026, students must be Maine residents, enroll within two years of graduating high school, and complete their program within 150 percent of the standard timeframe. The scholarship covers tuition but not fees under the permanent structure.
The existing program remains unchanged for students from the graduating classes of 2023 through 2025.
At SMCC, students enrolled through the program are preparing for careers in high-demand fields, including health care, manufacturing, construction and information technology.
For students like Yana Montell, a student-athlete and business administration major at SMCC, the program has made college possible.
“Coming from a single-parent household, I never thought college would be an option for me,” Montell said. “The free college program made it possible to attend SMCC and gives me a path to continue toward my bachelor’s degree. I’ve also found a strong sense of family here that I never expected.”
For more information about free community college opportunities at SMCC, visit smccME.edu/freecollege.