Maine Debates Making Free Community College Permanent at Lower Cost

Changes proposed by Gov. Janet Mills would reduce the annual program cost from $12.5 million to $10 million.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A year after lawmakers opted not to make Maine's free community college tuition program permanent, Gov. Janet Mills is taking another stab at funding the scholarship program in perpetuity by cutting the annual cost from $12.5 million to $10 million. The proposal includes tightening eligibility requirements, such as requiring students to live in Maine for 12 months prior to enrollment and decreasing the time to complete a degree from four years to three.

Why it matters

The free community college program has been touted as a huge success for Maine's students and workforce, but the state's difficult financial situation led lawmakers to decline making it permanent last year. This new proposal aims to ensure Maine high school graduates continue to have this educational opportunity, even if at a slightly reduced cost.

The details

The proposed changes would save $2.5 million over last year by: 1) requiring students to live in Maine for 12 months prior to enrollment (previously out-of-state students were eligible, though only about 4% took advantage); 2) covering 100% of tuition costs but no longer including fees (which are usually covered by other financial aid); and 3) decreasing the time to complete a degree from four years to three to remain eligible.

  • The free community college program began in 2022 and has been funded one budget at a time by the Legislature.
  • Last year, Mills proposed adding the program to the baseline budget, but the Appropriations Committee declined and instead approved only enough funding to cover the program for this year's high school graduating class.
  • Gov. Janet Mills has included a proposal in her supplemental budget to make the free community college program permanent.

The players

Janet Mills

The Governor of Maine who is proposing to make the free community college program permanent at a reduced annual cost of $10 million.

David Daigler

The president of the Maine Community College System, who said the proposed changes are "reasonable, and a viable way to ensure that Maine high school graduates continue to have this incredible opportunity."

Victoria Wile

A Central Maine Community College student who testified that the free college program allowed her to afford quality tools and materials for her degree program and focus on learning rather than paying off debts.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't seek these changes, but if the language in (the bill) is accepted, these changes are reasonable, and a viable way to ensure that Maine high school graduates continue to have this incredible opportunity.”

— David Daigler, President, Maine Community College System

“Without free college, I would have been counting every penny. But rather than to invest in my future, it would have been to pay off my debts.”

— Victoria Wile, Student, Central Maine Community College

What’s next

The Maine Legislature will debate and vote on the proposal to make the free community college program permanent at the reduced $10 million annual cost.

The takeaway

This proposal aims to preserve an important educational opportunity for Maine high school graduates, even if at a slightly lower cost, demonstrating the state's commitment to making higher education more accessible despite financial constraints.