The Future You Want — Tuition-Free
Tell me more.
Fill out the form and someone will be in touch shortly.
"*" indicates required fields
Pay ZERO tuition if you’re a recent high school graduate in Maine!
Don’t miss out on the Maine Free College Scholarship. If you graduated from high school since 2023, enroll now and receive free tuition at any of Maine’s community colleges. Learn a trade, prepare to transfer, and participate in lots of hands-on, practical training to learn the skills you need for the job you want. Choose from hundreds of programs.
Enroll part-time or full-time in any certificate or degree program!
What is the Free College Scholarship?
The Maine Free College Scholarship makes community college even more affordable! If you earned a high school diploma or its equivalent since 2023, you qualify for the scholarship. For the class of 2026 and beyond it covers 100% of tuition — that’s a savings of almost $3,000! For 2023-2025 graduates, the scholarship covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees. Here’s how it works.
Who is eligible for a Free College Scholarship?
If you graduated high school (or earned the equivalent such as the Hi-SET) since 2023 – you’re automatically considered for the scholarship. It’s that simple. There are no income or age limits. All you have to do is live in Maine a full year immediately prior to admission and while enrolled, pursue a degree or certificate program, and accept any state or federal aid you qualify for before the scholarship is applied. That’s it – you’re in!
What does the Free College Scholarship cover?
For graduates in 2026 and beyond, it will cover 100% of tuition. For graduates in 2023, 2024, and 2025, it covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees, after federal and state grant aid has been applied. Students qualifying for maximum federal and state grant aid will have additional grant funds available to cover books, supplies, and other related educational expenses.
Sounds good to me! How do I sign up?
Apply to one of Maine’s seven community colleges – or just fill out the form at the top of the page. We’ll assign you an advisor who will work with you to fill out an application, complete your financial aid application (aka the FAFSA), and pick out a program. We can do it over the phone, on Zoom, or in person. Whatever you need, we’ll help you get there.
Where can I study?
York County Community College:
- Wells, 84-acre wooded campus
- 1,782 students: Fall ’23
- 30+ programs of study
- 7 different semester start times
- Sanford Instructional Site off-campus center
- Campus has culinary arts lab, corporate training room
- Student government and clubs
- Volunteer opportunities
- Unique programs include forensic social work and veterinary technology
Southern Maine Community College:
- South Portland, spectacular 80-acre campus overlooking Casco Bay, with two beaches, a lighthouse, and a pier
- 7,205 students: Fall ’23
- 45+ programs of study
- Campus housing available
- Athletic teams, student clubs, and activities
- Workforce training
- Unique programs include biotechnology, marine science, and communications & new media
SMCC – Brunswick:
- The Midcoast Campus of SMCC is located in Brunswick and opened in 2011
- Facilities include classrooms, laboratories, a coed residence hall, and a state-of-the-art technology and engineering center
- Services include academic support, study space, registration and financial aid
Central Maine Community College:
- Auburn, 132-acre campus on the shores of Lake Auburn
- 4,121 students: Fall ’23
- Apartment-style residential housing
- Off-campus center in Damariscotta
- 40+ programs
- Student activities and clubs
- Athletic teams and Esports
- Unique programs include forensic science and justice studies
CMCC – South Paris:
- Located in the Western Maine University & Community College Center, next door to Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School
- Services include admissions, academic advising, transfer and placement, tutoring, test proctoring, quiet study space, laptop and internet use
CMCC – Damariscotta:
- CMCC offers its entire nursing program at the LincolnHealth Education Center
- Located at 66 Chapman St in Damariscotta
- To enroll contact CMCC at 755-5273; enroll@cmcc.edu
Kennebec Valley Community College:
- 70-acre campus in Fairfield
- Second campus in Hinckley, a 600-acre campus with farm and chapel
- Satellite locations in Augusta and Rockland
- 2,381 students: Fall ’23
- 35+ programs of study
- New welding center opened in fall 2020
- Unique programs include electrical lineworker technology and sustainable construction
KVCC – Hinckley:
- The Harold Alfond campus of KVCC is located in Hinckley
- The campus has an academic building, recreation center, chapel and a 120-acre farm
Eastern Maine Community College:
- Bangor, 72-acre campus conveniently located
- 2,531 students: Fall ’23
- 40+ programs of study
- Campus housing available
- Student clubs and activities
- Off-campus centers in East Millinocket
- Unique programs include diesel, truck & heavy equipment and digital graphic design
EMCC – East Millinocket:
- Located at the Katahdin Higher Education Center
- Classes are available, along with admissions and financial aid counseling, course registration and academic advising and tutoring
- Onsite childcare is available
Washington County Community College:
- Calais, 400-acre campus overlooking the St. Croix River, next to Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
- 685 students: Fall ’23
- 25+ programs of study
- Campus housing available
- Students get free equipment rentals at WCCC’s Outdoor Adventure Center, including camping, fishing, boating, back country and winter equipment
- Outdoor Adventure Center has a ropes course, rock-climbing wall, disc golf course and more
- Small class sizes
- Unique programs include coastal fisheries/marine technology and outdoor leadership
Northern Maine Community College:
- Presque Isle, 87-acre campus on the grounds of the former Presque Isle Air Force Base
- 772 students: Fall ’23
- 30+ programs of study
- Campus housing available
- Student clubs and activities, including Esports
- Newly renovated Reed Dining Commons
- Off-campus center in Houlton
- Unique programs include water treatment technology and wind power technology
NMCC – Houlton:
- Located at Houlton Higher Education Center
- Hosts NMCC classes in business, allied health, and liberal studies
YCCC – Sanford Instructional Site
- YCCC offers its Electrician Technology Program, Architectural Drafting & Design Program, CNC Academy and more at the Sanford Instructional Site.
- Located at 60 Community Drive in Sanford.
- To schedule a visit contact the Admissions Team: admissions@yccc.edu or call/text/fax: (207) 216-4409.
FAQs
When you apply, you are automatically considered for the scholarship. There’s no scholarship application you need to fill out. Just go ahead and apply to get started! Here is a flyer that explains the steps and how Free College works.
Our most popular programs are in health care, the trades, and business – but you have hundreds of choices including unique programs such as line worker training, veterinary assistant training, horticulture, and more! Study online or in-person, in a degree or certificate program – browse hundreds of options.
No, you just have to have lived in Maine a full year immediately prior to admission and while enrolled in college.
Absolutely! For half of our students grant aid covers most, or all, of their tuition and fees. Maine’s community colleges also offer a number of tuition waiver or free college options, including free short-term workforce training. Just fill out the form above and we’ll get in touch to help you navigate your options.
Yes, but there’s a limit. Find your enrollment deadline here:
- 2023 grads – Enroll no later than Summer 2026
- 2024 grads – Enroll no later than Summer 2027
- 2025 grads – Enroll no later than Summer 2028
- 2026 grads – Enroll no later than Summer 2029
It may be more affordable than you think – let us help! You have plenty of options to help cover any additional costs that are getting in the way of your education. Just fill out the form above and an advisor will reach out to help you understand all the options!
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It’s the online form used by all schools to determine eligibility for federal and state financial aid. It been simplified in recent years and most people complete in in under 30 minutes! To start, go to FAFSA.gov. If you need help, go to FAMEmaine.com/fafsa where you’ll find online resources and a link to free FAFSA Help sessions.
Graduates in the Class of 2026 and beyond have up to 150% of program time to access the scholarship, or three years of access for a two-year associate degree program. Graduates from the classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025 have up to 200% of program time, or four years of access in a two-year associate degree program.
No, but studies show that full-time students do better academically, so we encourage attending full-time. But we understand that isn’t always possible. We’ll work with you to keep you on track.