Tuition Equity Law
Effective July 1, 2023, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts created a pathway to expand access to in-state tuition as well as state financial aid to students who have attended Massachusetts high schools for at least three years, obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent in Massachusetts, and met other documentation requirements.
Undocumented, non-U.S. citizens who have attended high school in Massachusetts for at least three years and earned a diploma (or the equivalent, such as a GED/HiSET), may be eligible for in-state tuition at North Shore Community College. In addition, students will be eligible to be considered for state financial aid programs once the Department has developed a state-approved form equivalent to the FAFSA.
To qualify for in-state tuition rate with “High School Completer” status, which was a new category created by the tuition equity law, a student has to:
-
Have attended a Massachusetts high school for at least three years;
-
Graduated from a Massachusetts high school, or earned the equivalent such as a GED or HiSET in Massachusetts;
-
Have been admitted to a public institution of higher education within the Massachusetts system;
-
If the student is undocumented, or non-U.S. citizen, they must have an eligible nonimmigrant qualifying status;
-
All males (citizen or non-citizen) age 18-25 are required to register for the federal Selective Service.
Students seeking access to the in-state tuition rate with “High School Completer” status must:
-
Apply to any NSCC certificate or associate degree program
-
Complete the Tuition Equity Eligibility Form
Please bring this completed form and documentation to Enrollment Services, Danvers Campus: DH-260 or Lynn Campus: LS-134
Each college has a process called reclassification, which is how students file a request to be changed from out-of-state to in-state status. If eligible for the tuition equity program, any payments made in excess of in-state tuition rates will be refunded for students enrolled in classes that began on or after July 1, 2023.
Student Financial Services will contact you on changes to your student account and what steps you can expect.
Earn credit for prior learning
You’ve had a wealth of life experience that may align with learning outcomes of many of our courses. Graduate faster with an assessment of your life experience and prior learning for potential academic credit.
For more Information
Admissions
info@northshore.edu
978-762-4188
General Assistance | Hablamos español
Visit CentroHub, NSCC’s virtual campus, for in-person assistance via Zoom.