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Bill

H 1463

An Act relative to a tuition and fee freeze at all public colleges and universities

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jeff Turco

Freeze tuition and fees at Massachusetts public colleges to increase affordability, but risks reducing institutional funding for operations and educational services without new revenue sources.

Hearing scheduled for 07/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · H 1463

Legislative bill overview

H.1463 proposes freezing tuition and fees at all Massachusetts public colleges and universities, preventing institutions from raising these costs for students. The bill aims to make higher education more affordable and accessible by locking in current pricing levels.

Why is this important

Tuition increases have outpaced inflation for decades, making college increasingly unaffordable for Massachusetts families. A freeze would provide cost certainty for prospective and current students, though it raises questions about how institutions maintain and expand educational services without revenue growth.

Potential points of contention

  • Institutional funding impact: Colleges rely on tuition revenue for operations, faculty salaries, and facility maintenance; a permanent freeze could force difficult budget cuts or reduce educational quality
  • One-time vs. permanent freeze: Unclear whether this is a temporary measure or indefinite, affecting long-term planning by both institutions and students
  • Equity concerns: Freezing prices helps current/future students but may disadvantage institutions serving lower-income populations that depend more heavily on tuition revenue versus wealthier institutions with larger endowments
  • Federal/state aid coordination: No mention of how this interacts with existing financial aid, grants, or state appropriations to colleges

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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