Three Central Massachusetts state universities have split more than $4 million in state funding to provide tutoring and supportive services to students at risk of not graduating, including wraparound services for transportation, child care, and food needs.
Worcester State University, Framingham State University, and Fitchburg State University have received a total of $4.23 million in financing through Massachusetts’ fiscal year 2026 Supporting Urgent Community College Equity through Student Services program, known as the SUCCESS program.
Through the initiative, the state’s nine state universities received a total of $13 million in grants to support more than 16,000 students, according to a Friday press release from the Office of Gov. Maura Healey.
“We don’t want obstacles like a flat tire or child care needs to derail talented, driven students from succeeding on our college campuses,” Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll said in the release. “These grants help students navigate challenges that too often get in the way of completing a degree.”
Worcester State University received the most of the three Central Massachusetts universities, having been awarded $1.62 million in grant funding. Framingham State University received $1.32 million and Fitchburg State University received $1.3 million.
The grants will support wraparound services in areas such as student mental health, academic persistence, financial literacy, career counseling, transportation, and emergency grant aid, according to the release.
In addition to funding tutoring and wraparound services, the SUCCESS grants will be used to pay case workers pairing students with social service providers and programs.
“Breaking barriers to higher education equity means being intentional about meeting the needs of all students when they arrive on our campuses, including first-generation college students who are blazing paths to college in their families,” Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler said in the release.
The six other Massachusetts state universities receiving SUCCESS grants are below:
- Bridgewater State University received $2.9 million
- Salem State University received $2.05 million
- Westfield State University received $1.53 million
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston received $890,286
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay received $713,536
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams received $684,096
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare, manufacturing, and higher education industries.
