MCCS President David Daigler Urges Support for Free College in State of the System Address
AUGUSTA Maine —Maine lawmakers have good reasons to support extending Maine’s Free College program to future high school graduates, Maine Community College System (MCCS) President David Daigler told Maine legislators on Tuesday.
“The Free College promise we have collectively made is changing lives,” he told a joint convention of the 132nd Maine Legislature. “(It) is widening the pipeline for more skilled graduates entering the workforce and increasing transfers to our four-year college partners.”
The leaders of the state’s three public higher education institutions (MCCS, the University of Maine System, and Maine Maritime Academy) all addressed the lawmakers on Tuesday. It was the first in-person “State of Higher Education” event at the statehouse since 2019, before the pandemic.
The Maine Free College program covers 100% of tuition and fees for qualifying high school graduates from the graduating classes of 2020-2025. Students must live in Maine while enrolled, pursue a degree or certificate, complete the FAFSA, and accept all state and federal aid before the Free College funds are applied. It is a last-dollar scholarship.
State funding to continue the program beyond this year’s high school graduates is in the governor’s proposed biennial budget. MCCS has also requested an increase to its base funding to compensate employees and funding to meet financial obligations under the state’s new paid medical leave law.
“Free College is an investment in our future,” Daigler said. “And for those of you in the legislature, there are real financial returns on your investment. With more college graduates, incomes rise and balancing future budgets will be just a bit easier.”
Daigler also highlighted the system’s success in diversifying revenue to support expanded short-term workforce training programs; the doubling of the system’s nursing programs; new transfer agreements; increased transfer rates; and expanded construction and manufacturing programs.
Daigler recognized several community college graduates in the audience, including:
- Marilou Ranta, a 2016 Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) culinary program graduate who won a coveted James Beard award for outstanding hospitality at her restaurant, The Quarry, in Monson.
- Marilou’s son, Gunnar, a 2021 EMCC graduate who is a firefighter at Bangor International Airport.
- Kristen Crowley, who enrolled while still incarcerated through a limited “Second Chance” Pell program, eventually graduating with a 4.0 GPA and being named the Washington County Community College Student of the Year.
You can read the full text of the 2025 State of the Maine Community College System here.