Massachusetts: school, college and career rules
Massachusetts diplomas need the state Competency Determination (now earned through certified coursework, not a passing grade 10 MCAS) plus local requirements; in-state tuition needs 12 months of residence (6 at community colleges), and community college is free through MassEducate.
Linked from the State Population Totals 2020-2025 page (census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html); population and rank copied from the POPESTIMATE2025 and NRANK_POPEST2025 columns.Census
High school diploma
603 CMR 30.00: a school committee may award a diploma only to a student who has met the Competency Determination and the district's local graduation requirements (attendance, courses and grades). There are no statewide course credits; from the class of 2026 the Competency Determination is earned through coursework the district certifies. DESE
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| Subject | State minimum |
|---|---|
| English language arts | Coursework equal to two years of high school English language arts |
| Mathematics | One year each of Algebra I and geometry, or of Integrated Math I and II |
| Science and technology/engineering | One year of biology, physics, chemistry, or a technology or engineering course |
| United States history | One year of U.S. history (from the class of 2027) |
No statewide credit total: each district sets its own course and credit requirements.
State tests for the diploma
Each district must adopt and post a Competency Determination policy with an appeals process. Only where a district cannot document a student's coursework can the student use a Meeting or Exceeding Expectations score on the high school MCAS (or a district-certified equivalent). DESE
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Also good to know
- Students who met the Competency Determination in English language arts, math or science before 3 January 2025 keep that benefit.
DESE
603 CMR 30.00: Standards for Competency Determination and Local Graduation Requirements (amended 20 May 2025)Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
State test: MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. MCAS is a set of statewide standardized tests based on the state's learning standards; students score Exceeding, Meeting, Partially Meeting or Not Meeting Expectations. Federal and state law require statewide testing. DESE
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| Test | Subjects | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| MCAS | English language arts and mathematics | Grades 3–8 and 10 |
| MCAS | Science and technology/engineering | Grades 5 and 8, and one high school grade (usually 9 or 10) |
Source: DESE
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What the scores are used for
- Families get an objective measure of their child's and school's progress, and taxpayers see results of their investment in schools.
DESE
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment SystemMassachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- A passing high school MCAS score is no longer the route to a diploma: it counts toward the Competency Determination only where a district cannot document the student's coursework.
DESE
603 CMR 30.00: Standards for Competency Determination and Local Graduation Requirements (amended 20 May 2025)Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
National tests (SAT, ACT, AP, NAEP) are on the Exams hub.
Public colleges and universities
The state's public university system(s) and community colleges, from their own pages.
- University of Massachusetts (UMass)University system · Massachusetts' public university system: five campuses, including UMass Lowell and UMass Chan Medical School, with a mission of affordable, world-class education and research.
- Massachusetts community colleges (Department of Higher Education)Community colleges · The Department of Higher Education's campus directory lists each public community college, state university and UMass campus, from Cape Cod Community College to Springfield Technical Community College.
Sources: UMass
View sourceDHE
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Every school in Massachusetts, public and private, with cost and completion: 137 colleges, community colleges and trade schools, with 9 city pages.
In-state tuition: the residency rule
Public colleges charge less to state residents. Who counts as a resident is set by state law or the college system, not by where you went to school alone.
- Board of Higher Education policy: at UMass and the state universities you are a Massachusetts resident if you (or the parent of an unemancipated student) lived in Massachusetts for reasons other than school for the 12 months before entering. At community colleges the period is 6 months.
DHE
Board of Higher Education Residency Status for Tuition Classification Purposes (PDF)Massachusetts Department of Higher Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
Systemwide policy adopted 19 April 2007, effective 1 July 2007 (Residency Policy page, mass.edu/foradmin/Admissions/residency.asp).
View source - Physical presence for the whole period is not required if your conduct shows you intend Massachusetts as your permanent home, but residency is not gained just by living there while enrolled. The burden of proof is on the student.
DHE
Board of Higher Education Residency Status for Tuition Classification Purposes (PDF)Massachusetts Department of Higher Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
Systemwide policy adopted 19 April 2007, effective 1 July 2007 (Residency Policy page, mass.edu/foradmin/Admissions/residency.asp).
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The college's residency office makes the final decision. More on costs: What college costs.
State financial aid
Run by the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Department of Higher Education. Federal aid (Pell Grants, loans) starts with the FAFSA: FAFSA, grants and loans.
MASSGrant
Need-based grant for full-time undergraduates who have lived in Massachusetts for at least a year, at approved public or private colleges in the state (and some in Vermont, Pennsylvania and DC). File the FAFSA, or the MASFA if you cannot file the FAFSA; the deadline for 2026-27 was 30 June 2026. MA OSFA
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MassEducate (free community college)
Covers the full cost of tuition and fees at Massachusetts community colleges for eligible students of any age and income, with up to $1,200 for books and supplies by income; students need at least 6 credits a term. MA OSFA
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Licensing boards
Lawyers, doctors, CPAs and nurses need a Massachusetts license from a state board, even after passing a national exam. These are the boards that grant it.
| License | Massachusetts board | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer How bar admission works | Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners | Uniform Bar Exam (MBE, MEE and MPT). MPRE required (passing score 85). NextGen UBE from July 2028. NCBEMassachusetts: bar admission informationNational Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
Bar admission agency, the NCBE exams the jurisdiction requires, MPRE passing score and NextGen UBE plans. NCBE advises checking the agency itself for the latest rules. View source |
| Physician How a medical license works | Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine | USMLE (M.D.) or COMLEX-USA (D.O.) FSMBContact a State Medical BoardFederation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Directory of every state's medical (and separate osteopathic) board. fsmb.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 14 Sep 2026; each board link was then opened on 22 Oct 2026, through the board's site or, where it blocks reads from India, its latest archive capture. View source |
| CPA How the CPA license works | Massachusetts Board of Public Accountancy | Uniform CPA Examination NASBAState Boards of AccountancyNational Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
Directory of the 55 boards of accountancy. nasba.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 15 Oct 2026; board links that had moved were replaced with the board's current page, opened on 22 Oct 2026. View source |
| Registered nurse How the RN license works | Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing | NCLEX-RN · Nurse Licensure Compact enacted, not yet in effect NCSBNContact Massachusetts Board of Registration in NursingNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
NCSBN / NLCNLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF)National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact)
|
Engineering, teaching, real estate, cosmetology and the trades have their own boards: all professional licenses · trades and apprenticeships.
State and city government jobs
Federal jobs are on USAJOBS; state and city governments hire through their own systems.
MassCareers
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Create a profile on MassCareers, upload your resume and apply for jobs.
- Jobs span health, human services, transportation, IT, finance, public safety, education and more; state college and university jobs are listed separately.
Source: Mass.gov
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Police, fire and other public-safety routes: Public Service & Safety hub.
Registered apprenticeship
Massachusetts has a State Apprenticeship Agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. California is listed under both OA and SAA.Apprenticeship.gov
- Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS)Massachusetts' State Apprenticeship Agency: DAS supports, promotes and oversees Massachusetts Registered Apprenticeship Programs and helps employers develop and register programs.
- Trades and apprenticeshipsElectrician, plumber, HVAC and other trade routes on this site
Source: Mass.gov
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Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (NST-EST2025-POPCHG2020-2025, CSV) · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025) checked 2026-10-21
- Massachusetts: bar admission information · National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact a State Medical Board · Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) checked 2026-10-22
- State Boards of Accountancy · National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) checked 2026-10-22
- NLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF) · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact) checked 2026-10-07
- 603 CMR 30.00: Standards for Competency Determination and Local Graduation Requirements (amended 20 May 2025) · Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education checked 2026-10-22
- Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System · Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education checked 2026-10-22
- University of Massachusetts · University of Massachusetts checked 2026-10-22
- Campus Directory: Public Colleges & Universities · Massachusetts Department of Higher Education checked 2026-10-22
- Board of Higher Education Residency Status for Tuition Classification Purposes (PDF) · Massachusetts Department of Higher Education checked 2026-10-22
- MASSGrant · Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance checked 2026-10-22
- Free Community College (MassEducate and MassReconnect) · Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance checked 2026-10-22
- Find Your Career at the Commonwealth · Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov) checked 2026-10-22
- Division of Apprentice Standards · Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development checked 2026-10-22
- The Apprenticeship System: Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) states · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21