COURTESY OF MAINE’S COMMUNITY COLLEGES
MAINE’S COMMUNITY COLLEGES play a pivotal
role in the educational landscape of Maine, providing
affordable, accessible, and high-quality education and
training, and serving students with a vast array of aspirations at various stages in their career development.
Maine’s seven community colleges offer more than
300 degree and certificate options, 200 short-term prehire workforce programs, and work with more than
1,300 Maine employers to expand Maine’s workforce.
Below are some examples of exciting initiatives available through Maine’s community colleges.
FREE FOR MANY. AFFORDABLE FOR ALL.
Maine’s community colleges offer the lowest tuition and fees in New England. For nearly half of our degree-seeking students, Pell Grants and Maine State Grants cover the full cost of tuition and fees. For many, the grants cover significantly more. In all, 82% of degree-seeking students receive some form of grant aid to help cover the cost of their education. You don’t have to be a full-time student to qualify for financial aid. A two-year associate degree for Maine students is $4,156 a year in tuition and fees.
EARLY COLLEGE
High school students can take up to 12 college credits
tuition-free every year through our Early College programs. These courses will challenge you, spark your interest, and prepare you for college.
LEARN MORE: MCCS.ME.EDU/HIGH-SCHOOL
FREE COLLEGE
Don’t miss out on the Free College Scholarship! If you
graduated high school (or earned the equivalent of a high school diploma, like a GED or HiSET) between 2022-2025, enroll now and receive free tuition at any of Maine’s seven community colleges. You can choose from any of our degree or certificate programs. From core classes to hands-on training, there are hundreds of programs to choose from.
To qualify, students must:
Pursue a degree or certificate at least part-time Fill out a FAFSA and use any grant aid first Live in Maine while enrolled
LEARN MORE: FREECOMMUNITYCOLLEGEMAINE.COM
FREE SHORT-TERM WORKFORCE PROGRAMS
Have you always been interested in a particular career but don’t have much time to train? Fast-track your future with low- or no-cost short-term training programs. Our seven community colleges have over 200 workforce programs designed to get you the skills you need to start a career you’re passionate about. These programs have been built with industry partners to identify what’s required to get started, and when students are ready, they will have already earned credits toward a certificate or degree program in that field.
Programs take just weeks and months to complete and
are offered at little or no cost to anyone who lives in
Maine. Some offer weekly stipends, housing, or guaranteed interviews with companies that are hiring.
Take advantage of hybrid, night, and weekend schedules, stackable badges and certificates, an onramp to a degree program, and an affordable way to learn a new skill.
LEARN MORE: MCCS.ME.EDU/WORKFORCE-TRAINING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING
Our commitment to education is lifelong. Our community colleges’ Workforce and Professional Development departments can help ensure Mainers have the resources they need to advance and grow professionally. For students, that means creating a pathway for that next professional goal. For businesses, that means understanding your needs, customizing training, and helping develop a workforce to fit your current and future needs.
LEARN MORE: MCCSWORKS.COM
From trades to transfer, Maine’s seven community colleges provide high-quality, relevant, hands-on learning at a fraction of the typical college cost. Find your best future here, choosing from a diverse mix of programs offered through short-term training in under a year, one-year certificates, two-year associate degrees, and advanced certificates.
COLLEGE PREVIEW 2024
