Ten years ago, Sara Guttierez dropped out of college because she could not make the finances work.
It was a hard, stressful decision, she recalled Wednesday, one that left her feeling “lost and uncertain” about the future. But today, Guttierez is back in school, studying business administration at Cape Cod Community College and serving as a student trustee.
The change that gave Guttierez a “renewed sense of hope and possibility,” she said, was the launch of no-cost community college in Massachusetts, a new option authorized in the most recent state budget.
“Through the MassEducate program, I can focus wholeheartedly on my education without the burden of student debt,” she said. “This program is not only just a financial relief, it’s a gateway to a brighter future for many students like me. The ability to pursue my academic goals without worrying about tuition costs has invigorated my passion for learning and personal growth.”
Guttierez is one of thousands of students who have returned to or enrolled for the first time at the Bay State’s community colleges this fall after lawmakers and Gov. Maura Healey agreed that the state should help fund their education.
Healey said Wednesday that about 10,000 students are already taking advantage of the option this semester, and that the number could rise as high as 45,000 this school year.
“Think about that, because behind every one of those individuals is a family and is an opportunity that’s going to result in growth for them, individually, and also economic growth for our state,” Healey said during an event at MassBay Community College in Framingham. “These are the kinds of investments that we want to make.”
Students who earn 125 percent or less of the statewide median income can also receive stipends of up to $1,200 for books, supplies and other costs, and Pell-eligible students already eligible for a books stipend could get additional aid up to $2,400.
While free to students, the…