The Healey-Driscoll Administration in Massachusetts has been busy making strides in education reform, and they're not shy about celebrating these advances. At the launch of their latest initiative, Go Higher, Governor Maura Healey and her team took to UMass Dartmouth to discuss how their investments are breaking down the financial barriers that often hinder access to higher education in the state. According to a recent news release on Mass.gov, the statewide campaign intends to inspire more Massachusetts students to pursue college by emphasizing affordability.
One could say that highlighting progress is as much a part of politics as making it. In this case, Governor Healey proclaimed, "Massachusetts is leading the way in proving that higher education can be both excellent and affordable." The administration's dedication to these ideals is evidenced not just in the launch of Go Higher, but also through the myriad of initiatives they've rolled out, which, according to Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, show commitment to the notion that college is an achievable dream for every student. Indeed, echoing Driscoll's sentiment, Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega spoke on the multifaceted approach the state is taking to assist students, as reported by Mass.gov.
The launch of Go Higher aligns with the opening of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-2027 academic year – a crucial step for accessing state and federal aid. Students who can't submit a FAFSA, have the option of utilizing the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) to apply for state financial aid, ensuring that broader access is more than just a vision. The state's education chiefs believe that transformative education is within reach. "With Go Higher as the unifying brand and ACARE as the guiding framework, Massachusetts is ensuring that higher education is not just accessible, but transformative for all students," Tutwiler expressed in a statement obtained by Mass.gov.
UMass President Marty Meehan shared his gratitude for the financial aid support from the Healey-Driscoll Administration, which benefits their efforts to propel a "world-class UMass education" into the realm of affordability and accessibility. The Go Higher campaign's goal, as laid out over the past year, focuses on increasing access, equity, and support especially for underrepresented students in the Bay State, and it stems from the insights of the administration's Advisory Council to Advance Representation in Education (ACARE) established in 2023 in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action. The state seems to have doubled down, from funding early college programs to expanding career pathway initiatives, as mentioned on Mass.gov.
Despite the challenges ahead, students like UMass Dartmouth junior Graham Kratochwill can already feel the impact. "I am grateful for the public funding that has allowed me to attend UMass Dartmouth tuition-free," Kratochwill told Mass.gov. This symbolizes more than just the effectiveness of a government campaign, it represents real changes in the lives of Massachusetts' residents, clearing a path toward their educational and career goals.
