- Executive Office of Education
- Department of Higher Education
Media Contact
Nicole Giambusso, Communications Director
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today it awarded $247,000 in Bridges to College grants to five community colleges and a health care staffing agency to help nearly 200 adult learners strengthen their academic skills and successfully transition into higher education and career training programs.
The Bridges to College Program supports community colleges and organizations that prioritize helping adult, low-income and entry level workers overcome obstacles that may prevent them from completing their degree and launching in-demand careers.
“Every Massachusetts resident deserves the opportunity to continue their education and build a better future for themselves and their families,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These Bridges to College grants are making it easier for adult learners in the state to get back into the classroom and earn a degree by helping remove barriers, strengthen pathways to college, and create opportunities for Massachusetts residents looking for economic and career growth.”
“Adult learners often face unique challenges when returning to school,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Bridges to College supports community partnerships that provide the academic preparation, advising and encouragement students need to take the next step with confidence.”
The Bridges to College Program builds on efforts by the administration to help more students access college while boosting the state’s workforce and competitiveness. Working with the Legislature, Governor Healey has doubled state funding for financial aid programs – including offering free tuition and fees to Pell Grant eligible students at all public two- and four-year colleges and making community college free regardless of income level. Data from the first two years of MassReconnect show consecutive year-over-year enrollment growth of adult learners ages 25 and older, a growth of 20,000 adult learners alone over two years.
In October, the administration awarded $1.5 million in Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) grants to provide essential training opportunities to more than 500 unemployed and under-employed residents. Massachusetts also recently launched a partnership with ReUp Education to bring adult learners who previously began, but did not complete, degrees and certificates at the state’s public colleges and universities back to college.
“Bridges to College programs play a critical role in supporting adult learners as they transition into postsecondary education,” said Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike. “These partnerships help ensure that adult students have the academic preparation, advising and support they need to succeed in college and beyond.”
“Bridges to College is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s successful efforts to help adult learners overcome the barriers of returning to college,” said Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega. “When residents of Massachusetts get well-deserved opportunities to grow their careers, there’s a positive ripple effect on families, communities, our workforce, and our economy.”
In November, the Healey-Driscoll Administration released a first-of-its-kind state report on post-college earnings that shows that, 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. The report followed the administration’s 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.
Grant Awardees
Bristol Community College (Bristol): $26,398
Funding will enhance Bristol’s existing Transition to College (TTC) program, a comprehensive, equity-centered initiative designed to support adult learners as they move from adult education into developmental or credit-bearing coursework.
Caring Medical Staffing: $50,000
The Healthcare Workforce & College Transition Pathway is a comprehensive program designed to prepare learners for immediate employment in the healthcare field while creating a bridge to postsecondary education. Students will earn their Certified Nurse Assistant certificate, CPR and First Aid certificate, Dementia certificate and Home Health Aid certification.
Holyoke Community College (HCC): $40,524
In partnership with Western Mass CORE, HCC will develop enhanced college and career preparation modules to address key challenges that face adults seeking access to college and workforce programs.
Middlesex Community College (MCC): $41,870
MCC will develop Middlesex Bridges to Credit: Health & Technical Pathways Initiative, a program designed to transition adult learners who have completed non-credit workforce and adult education programs into Fall 2026 enrollment in credit-bearing certificate and degree pathways aligned with in-demand, living-wage careers.
Quinsigamond Community College (QCC): $38,208
QCC will register and enroll low-income and entry-level adult workers into the Bridges to College summer program, including outreach, academic preparation, support services and career readiness.
Roxbury Community College (RCC): $50,000
The program will expand The Fort at RCC’s structured transition model for justice-impacted adult learners, providing coordinated intake, individualized advising, case management, and coaching to address both academic readiness and non-academic barriers.
###