Massachusetts In-State Tuition and State Financial Aid
Under the new “High School Completer’s” Tuition Equity Law, certain non-US citizens*, including undocumented students, who attended high school in Massachusetts for at least three years and earned a diploma (or the equivalent, such as a GED/HiSET) in Massachusetts, may be eligible for in-state tuition and be considered for state financial aid programs in all Massachusetts colleges and universities, including Bunker Hill.
Am I eligible for in-state tuition as a “High School Completer”?
To be eligible, you must:
- Have attended high school or an approved homeschool program in Massachusetts for at least 3 years
- Have earned a high school diploma (or the equivalent, such as a GED/HiSET) in Massachusetts
- Be admitted to either a Massachusetts public college or university, or a Massachusetts private, non-profit college or university
*Students who have DACA, TPS, U-visa or T- visa may be eligible for both in-state tuition and state financial aid consideration if they meet all other requirements. People visiting the U.S. on temporary non-immigrant visas (such as tourist visas, F-1 student visas, exchange visitor visas, or temporary work visas) will not be eligible for in-state tuition rates or state financial aid.
Am I eligible to be considered for state financial aid?
Once you are determined to be eligible for in-state tuition as a “High School Completer,” you may be eligible to be considered for all state financial aid programs on the same term as other students.
To determine your specific state financial aid award, you will need to complete a FAFSA or the MASFA if you are not FAFSA-eligible due to your immigration status.
Being considered for state financial aid does not guarantee access to state financial aid. You must still meet the eligibility criteria for each financial aid program for which you are seeking access.
Learn about the Massachusetts state financial aid programs and their eligibility criteria.
If I am eligible, what are the next steps?
- Enroll at Bunker Hill Community College by filling out an admissions application and completing the enrollment steps.
- After getting accepted into BHCC, use your log-in information to fill out the High School Completer (Tuition Equity Eligibility) Form and upload any supporting documents.
- Apply to be considered for state financial aid programs by completing a FAFSA or MASFA if you are not FAFSA-eligible due to your immigration status.
If you are a currently enrolled eligible student and paid the out-of-state tuition during any semester after July 1st, 2023, any payments made in excess of the in-state tuition rate will be refunded to your student account. Please reach out to our Director of Immigrant Student Support Services at renata.mauriz@bhcc.edu if you believe you may qualify for a refund.
Will my personal information remain private?
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1947 (FERPA) a student’s personally identifiable information is protected from being shared with third parties. Institutions are expected to refrain from unnecessarily obtaining information about a student’s immigration or citizenship status without a reason, and only to the extent needed to make tuition and financial aid eligibility determinations. Institutions should also provide training to all faculty and staff on privacy policies.
Additional Information
Tuition Equity factsheets in Español, Português, and Haitian Kreyol are available in the MIRA Coalition page.
If you are currently enrolled or a newly admitted student and believe you qualify for the Tuition Equity law as a “High School Completer”, we encourage you to reach out to renata.mauriz@bhcc.edu with any questions.
To learn more about “High School Completers” Tuition Equity Law, please visit the Department of Higher Education’s webpage and FAQ. If you are not eligible for in-state tuition as a “High School Completer,” you may still be eligible under the traditional residency classification pathway.