Mass Degrees Deliver: New Report Highlights Economic Impact of Making College More Affordable and Accessible (November 19, 2025)
The American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts joined the Healey-Driscoll Administration last week for the release of a first-of-its kind state report on post-college earnings for students who attended Massachusetts’ 29 public colleges and universities.
Five years after graduation, graduates of Massachusetts public colleges or universities make $20,000 to $30,000 more per year than their peers who did not pursue higher education.
"Higher education has long been seen as the great equalizer, but getting a degree is increasingly out of reach for far too many. We are proud to work with the Healey Administration and our Legislative allies to increase affordability and equity at our public colleges and universities,” said AFT MA President Jessica Tang. “Providing the resources and support to ensure our students are able to be successful not only puts them on a pathway toward economic mobility, it is an important investment in our economic security as a state that relies heavily on an educated workforce."
These findings speak to the positive impacts recent efforts to make public higher education more affordable in Massachusetts are having. Working with the Legislature, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has doubled state funding for financial aid – including offering free tuition and fees to Pell Grant eligible students at all public two- and four-year colleges and making community college free for everyone.
In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, state financial aid programs saved Massachusetts students about $130 million on the cost of college. When students can afford to pursue higher education, they are more likely to make higher earnings throughout the course of their career and fill the needs of employers in in-demand fields.
This report follows the administration’s recent launch of “Go Higher,” a new brand and awareness campaign designed to increase exposure to higher education, improve the information pipeline, and build awareness of financial and institutional supports that help students see themselves in college. This also builds on efforts to spread awareness on financial aid and inspire students to see higher education as an option, such as the administration’s Financial Aid Road Show, and investments in My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) and MEFA Pathway that help middle and high school students with ongoing opportunities to plan for their academic, personal and career success in high school and beyond.
“The data is clear – Massachusetts degrees deliver,” said Governor Maura Healey. “When students graduate from our community colleges and public colleges, they get paid more, they have more opportunities for upward mobility, and they provide a skilled workforce for our employers. This is why, working with the Legislature, we have prioritized making college more affordable in Massachusetts. When we lower barriers to pursuing higher education, our students succeed and our economy succeeds.”
“As a proud public college graduate, this report shows what I have long known – public higher education in Massachusetts is key to lifelong career success,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Importantly, our public higher education graduates are more likely to stay in Massachusetts where they will continue their contributions to our economy and our communities. We’re proud to have made record investments in financial aid and will keep working to make college more affordable for everyone.”
“This report confirms that investing in higher education improves lives and bolsters our economy,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “When we set out to transform higher education access in Massachusetts, this was our goal — and this data shows we’re achieving it. I applaud Governor Healey and her administration for implementing this program so effectively, the Senators who fought to make it a reality, and the students, faculty, staff, and campus leaders who are seeing these results in real time.”
The release of the report, The Earnings Outcomes of Public Postsecondary Education in Massachusetts, kicks off the launch of new post-college earnings metrics that will be updated annually in the Department of Higher Education’s (DHE) Performance Measurement Reporting System (PMRS). PMRS is a public dashboard that tracks student success and other key performance indicators for each community college and state university in Massachusetts.
“Earnings isn’t the only data point or goal that matters when it comes to choosing a college or major, but for many students and families, it’s a primary driver of their future plans, and the Board’s role includes making this information available,” said Board of Higher Education Chair Chris Gabrieli. "It is now up to us and the leadership of each campus to determine how to help more students gain even more economic mobility through our colleges."
“The House has been working with the Governor to make college more affordable, and now we're seeing real results,” said Representative Dave Roger (D-Cambridge). “Massachusetts students are saving money upfront and earning more after graduation. That's a win for students, families, and our economy.”
The report shows that median earnings five years after completing college are over $61,000 a year for those with associate degrees and $72,000 a year for bachelor’s degree completers. By comparison, students with a high school diploma who did not attend college earn about just over $42,000 annually.
“Higher education brings students life-long skills, agency over their lives, and as this data shows, substantial personal financial rewards,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “This report highlights that education supports each student’s individual economic mobility goals, as well as those of their family, local communities and economy. In Massachusetts, we remain committed to making higher education more affordable and accessible for all students – and lifting barriers so all students persist to graduation.”
“At a time when many people are questioning the value of a college degree, I’m proud to share data that serves as a valuable public resource and highlights the personal finance growth that college can bring in just five years,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega.
Along with the American Association of University Professors, the AFT Massachusetts represents over 4,000 members working at public and private institutions of higher education in Massachusetts.