State universities in Massachusetts are experiencing an enrollment increase this fall, driven primarily by a significant rise in transfer students, marking the first overall growth in more than a decade, according to recent data presented to the state’s board of Higher Education. Enrollment across the public higher education system rose 2.2 percent compared to last year, with community colleges seeing a 3.9 percent increase—their fourth consecutive year of growth—and state universities reporting a 2.2 percent gain, the first since 2013. The University of Massachusetts system maintained stable enrollment levels.
A notable surge in transfer student enrollment is a key factor behind these trends. Transfer enrollment climbed 16.6 percent at state universities and 3.8 percent at UMass campuses. Community colleges remain a major source of these transfers, a development attributed in part to tuition-free policies implemented in recent years. Additionally, students transferring from recently closed private institutions, such as Anna Maria College in Paxton and Hampshire College, which are closing due to financial and demographic pressures, have contributed to the increased transfer numbers.
“Students continue to find opportunities in Massachusetts’ public higher education system,” said Interim Higher Education Commissioner José Luis Santos. He emphasized the importance of supporting degree completion, noting “gains in on-time credit accumulation” but highlighting ongoing efforts to close equity gaps and ensure students receive the support needed to graduate.
While enrollment is rising, degree completion rates reveal continued challenges. The overall six-year completion rate for Massachusetts public institutions has remained steady at roughly 56 percent, falling short of the department’s 60 percent target for 2033. This rate measures students who enroll as new entrants and then earn a degree or certificate anywhere in the U.S. within six years.
Board member Francesca Purcell from the Harvard Graduate School of Education stressed the significance of focusing on completion, stating that simply attending college without earning a credential yields limited benefits.
Improvement is seen in first-year credit accumulation, particularly at community colleges, where the percentage of full-time students completing at least 24 credits and part-time students earning 12 credits increased to 40.3 percent for the fall 2025 cohort. This marks an 18-point gain since 2012 and surpasses the department’s 2033 goal. Progress has been made across racial groups, though persistent gaps remain, with outcomes for Black and Hispanic students generally trailing those of White students.
State universities also reported an increase in on-time credit completion to 70.6 percent for the 2025 cohort, recovering from pandemic-related declines. Additionally, the rate of students returning for a second year is improving. Transfer student completion rates grew to 64.6 percent for those graduating within four years of transferring from community colleges, nearing the 65 percent target set for 2033.
Despite the positive trends, officials caution that the initial surge attributed to tuition-free community college policies is beginning to level off amid a declining population of college-age students in Massachusetts. Mario Delci, associate commissioner for research and planning, called for collaborative efforts to identify new strategies to sustain and grow enrollment, particularly at community colleges, in the years ahead.
Governor Maura Healey applauded the enrollment growth and highlighted her administration’s investments in public higher education during Tuesday’s board meeting.