By Catherine Buxton 

If you want to improve your job skills or advance your career or earning potential, a great place to start is by earning a degree or joining a short-term training program. See below for resources available to help you pay for a degree or short-term training program.  

Competitive Skills Scholarship Program  

The Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP) helps workers pay for education or training to prepare for well paying and in-demand jobs. CSSP may cover up to $10,000 for full-time students. These funds can be used for tuition, books, computers, transportation and other services that help you stay in school. In addition, the program may help with childcare and provide very low-income students a small stipend.  

To qualify you must be a resident of Maine and not already have a degree, unless your current degree doesn’t prepare you for a high-wage job. You can learn more and apply on the Maine Department of Labor’s website: https://www.maine.gov/labor/careerctr/cssp.shtml. We highly recommend working with a Peer Workforce Navigator or going to your local CareerCenter for assistance. 

Note: New this year – You don’t need a work permit to apply to CSSP. As long as you have applied or intend to apply for work authorization, you could be eligible for the program. CSSP also can help pay to transfer a foreign degree, learn English, or take remedial or “refresher” courses. 

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HOPE and Parents as Scholars  

If you are a parent and don’t already have a marketable bachelor’s degree, the HOPE or Parents as Scholars programs could be for you. Both programs help parents afford an education by covering tuition, and also helping with childcare and transportation. 

The Parents as Scholars program is for parents who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and want to go back to school. The Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment (HOPE) program is for parents or caretakers who don’t get TANF but earn less than 225% of the federal poverty level (FPL), or about $47,800 for a two-person household or $72,500 for a four-person household. 

The Jobs for Maine Graduates website includes full eligibility requirements and how to get help applying. 

WIOAfree training programs 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal program that provides tuition and other financial assistance for you to attend various workforce training or school programs. Make an appointment at a CareerCenter near you to discuss your options.  

Note: You can always request an interpreter when going to a CareerCenter. Locations can be found here: https://www.myworksourcemaine.gov/locations.  

Other free or low-cost education options  

Maine’s free community college program is a very popular and accessible option. Anyone who earned a high school diploma in the years 2022 to 2025 can enroll in a community college for free. There is no income or age limit. Community colleges usually offer two-year associates degrees and other certificates in different fields, from culinary arts to technology, welding to education. Maine’s community colleges also offer short-term programs for industry-specific training. Maine Community College System’s website (https://www.mccs.me.edu/our-colleges/) has more information.  

Local Adult Education programs also offer free or low-cost programs. You can earn your high school diploma, or GED, and often take job courses, too. For example, Portland Adult Education offers training to become a bank teller, a nursing assistant, a teacher, and more. Find a program near you at www.maineadulted.org.  

Other resources to help pay for school 

Need more help paying for school? Here are more resources that can help. 

  • FAME Maine: This organization can help you find scholarships and other ways to save for school. See www.famemaine.com, or email Flo Mananga, New Mainer Specialist, at [email protected]. 
  • ProsperityME offers a Prosper Scholarship for individuals to enroll in community college, as well as Individual Savings Accounts to help save for education or other expenses. Go to www.prosperityME.org, or make an appointment at their office, 175 Lancaster St., 2nd floor, Portland, (207) 797-7890. 

If you are interested in any of these programs, and want help connecting or filing an application, a Peer Workforce Navigator can help you. Visit www.workforcenavigator.org or text Syvlie at (207) 888-3963 for more information.