By Tiffany Williams –
The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education approved new regulations that could reshape how students earn college degrees, opening a pathway for institutions to propose pilot programs aimed at cutting costs, speeding graduation, and getting students into the workforce faster.
The regulation allows the state’s public and private colleges and universities to seek approval for innovative degree programs that may require the Board to waive certain existing rules on degree-granting authority. Among the options now on the table is the ability to offer three-year bachelor’s degrees, a model already used in other states.
“Massachusetts is the innovation state – and we want to apply that to our higher education system to make it more affordable for students to pursue college and help them succeed through graduation and beyond,” said Governor Maura Healey. “We’re creating a pathway for colleges to allow some students to graduate in three years, which will help make us more competitive with other states, lower costs, and support students and our workforce.”
“In Massachusetts, we have industries that need talent and students eager to grow their education and careers,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “I’m grateful to the Board of Higher Education for inviting campuses to innovate in a way that will benefit students, faculty, employers and our economy.”
Under current regulations, bachelor’s degrees in Massachusetts must include at least 120 credits, typically requiring four years to complete. The newly approved Innovation Regulation does not automatically approve degrees below that threshold. Instead, it creates a formal process for institutions to submit applications for sub-120 credit degree pilots or other innovative approaches, all subject to Board review, approval, and post-pilot evaluation.
“The ‘traditional college student’ is a thing of the past, and as a state, we must be open to exploring innovative approaches to college degrees that work for the lives of students,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “This Innovation Regulation shows us how consumer protection and innovation can co-exist, and I’m excited to see what types of proposals the Board receives.”
Pilot programs must respond to significant changes in areas such as society, demographics, technology, educational research, or expectations surrounding post-secondary education.
“These regulations invite ideas on how to increase the effectiveness of higher education,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “We’re inviting campuses to innovate in order to meet the needs of students and the Commonwealth, and we’re doing it in a way that maintains the Board’s careful review of program proposals and upholds consumer protections.”
“The Board of Higher Education prioritizes smart, responsible innovation to accelerate needed change in higher education,” said BHE Chair Chris Gabrieli. “In a state that leads the nation and even world in higher education, I am proud that we are offering a balanced approach that focuses on pilots which will allow us all to work with pioneering colleges and confirm whether creative new approaches provide students with real advantages.”
Innovation is one of the Board’s four strategic priorities tied to its Equity Goal, alongside Student Success and Financial Aid, Economic Mobility, and Public Good. The Board first discussed sub-120 credit bachelor’s degrees at its December 2024 meeting and continued those discussions in 2025, ultimately forming the basis for the approved regulation. The Department of Higher Education worked with stakeholders to finalize the proposal, and the Board voted to open a public comment period on October 28, 2025.
Institutions seeking approval for pilot programs will be evaluated primarily on innovation and consumer protection. Depending on the proposal, schools may need to show how the program improves the effectiveness of higher education, responds to labor market or student demand, and demonstrates sufficient institutional resources. The regulation includes detailed consumer protection