Admission to community colleges in Maine has been free since being established as COVID-related measure in 2022, but it’s scheduled to expire this year.
Maine Community College System President David Daigler says the program has been extremely successful and has filled critical workforce needs in fields like healthcare and trades, when he joined WGAN Morning News
“I actually have businesspeople coming up to me thanking me for what we’re doing, because they’re able to get talent. They’re able to get the skills that they need in order to keep going,” Daigler said. “And we’re living in a state where we have two vacancies for every job applicant.”
Lawmakers in Maine have not indicated a willingness to extend the free community college program, which is estimated to cost $7.5 million per year. A legislative committee voted unanimously last week against a bill that would’ve made free community college admission permanent in the state.
Daigler says 17,000 students have taken advantage of free tuition, more than doubling expectations about 8,000.
“We’re attracting students from all walks of life, but especially those lower income families who just didn’t feel like college was ever in their sight, and now they have an opportunity,” said Daigler. “It really would be a shame to pull the rug out from under them and not continue, especially with the success of the program and the way students have really responded to it.”
Daigler emphasized the importance of expanding the program to include adult learners and highlighted the program’s success in increasing enrollment by 19% in 2023, leading the nation.
