Higher number of students qualify for in-state tuition scholarship

More students in Massachusetts qualified for a free in-state tuition award this year, the state's education department announced recently.

More than 18,000 Massachusetts students in the 2011 graduating class received the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, 500 more than last year.
Students qualify for the merit-based award by performing well on the MCAS English and language arts and math tests. They must receive an advanced score on one exam and at least a proficient score on the other.
They also have to rank within the top 25 percent of students in their district and be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts.

The scholarship provides free tuition at any of the state's public colleges and universities for four years. Award recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA to keep the benefit.
The Adams Scholarship is the state's only merit-based tuition award.
This year's increase in scholarship recipients was welcome news at local state schools.
"We're pleased to see another funding opportunity for prospective students," said Jeremy Solomon, a spokesman for Mass Bay Community College. "In these economic times, finding ways to fund economic pursuits is vital."

"It's a good thing for all the public universities in the state," said Framingham State University spokesman Peter Chisholm.
Students who receive the scholarship don't have to use it, and may choose to attend a private or out-of-state school instead.
But recent enrollment trends show that more students are choosing to attend public institutions in Massachusetts.
Solomon said the economy is a strong factor driving that trend.
"I don't think there's any question about it," he said. "In tough economic times, some people just aren't able to afford (private schools)."

In a statement released last Tuesday, the state's higher education commissioner, Richard Freeland, said public colleges and universities offer a competitive education for those students.
"I know that these students and their families will be pleased with the broad array of choices and programs they find at our 29 campuses across the state," he said.
About 17,500 students received the Adams Scholarship last year, according to the state education department. The year before, slightly more than 17,400 received the award.
The scholarship was established by the state in 2005 to encourage high-achieving students to attend college in-state.
(Scott O'Connell can be reached at 508-626-4449 508-626-4449 or soconnel@cnc.com.)