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Laying the Groundwork: Building a Policy Roadmap for Massachusetts Public Higher Education
November 13, 2025
By 2031, nearly 75% of jobs in Massachusetts are projected to require education beyond high school, making college and career training essential for the Commonwealth’s economic future. Yet too many students—especially those from underserved communities—continue to face persistent barriers to enrollment, retention, and completion, limiting their opportunities to thrive in higher education and the workforce.
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The coauthors of this roadmap represent a small working group of 6 organizations united by a shared commitment to advancing equitable, student-centered public higher education policies in Massachusetts. Drawing on diverse expertise, we collaborate to inform evidence-based policy solutions grounded in rigorous research. Our work is guided by data-driven decision-making, student-centered policy design, and equity-focused solutions that seek to build a well-resourced public higher education system that delivers real value to all learners.