AICU Mass (The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts) is the leading voice for independent colleges on important policy matters including legislative and regulatory considerations, economic and tax development matters and most importantly for MEFA and families across the Commonwealth, advocating for financial aid for students and families serving as a liaison to a variety of education-focused organizations on the state and federal level.

With a strong research arm to support its public information functions, AICU Mass is a repository of data depicting higher education trends locally and nationally serving as an important information resource.

AICU Mass’ advocacy for student financial aid has continued to help shape the financial aid landscape in Massachusetts providing opportunities and support for students studying at two year and four year institutions, liberal arts colleges and research universities ensuring that students have access and choice to higher education in Massachusetts. MEFA works in partnership with AICU Mass member institutions to offer MEFA’s services of outreach and education on the college financing process for both families and educators across the Commonwealth. To quote Richard Doherty, President of AICU Mass “MEFA provides an exemplary outreach program to the high schools to make students, counselors, and parents aware of the importance of a higher education and to better educate families about the way to finance a college education”.

The association between MEFA and AICU Mass continues a long tradition of working collaboratively on behalf of higher education institutions in the Commonwealth and the thousands of families they serve.