LOWELL — Eligible Massachusetts students with family incomes of $75,000 or less will pay no undergraduate tuition or fees when they enroll at UMass Lowell, Chancellor Julie Chen announced Tuesday.

“High school students and their families are spending this fall narrowing down their college choices or deciding whether they can afford to go to college,” Chen said. “UMass Lowell is committed to making it clear that Massachusetts residents can afford to earn an exceptional college degree.”

She also noted that more than 40 percent of UMass Lowell students are the first generation in their family to attend college.

“The impact of a college degree can be felt by families for generations,” Chen said. “Thank you to our state legislators and the Healey-Driscoll administration for funding MASSGrant Plus and for investing in the future of UMass Lowell students.”

UMass President Marty Meehan said all four undergraduate campuses in the UMass system are moving in that direction.

“I am proud that UMass Lowell is highlighting how affordable a UMass education is and appreciate the work that Chancellor Chen and other UMass chancellors are doing to educate Massachusetts families and students about this reality.” , Meehan said.

“Over the past decade, the UMass system has increased university-funded financial aid by 73 percent to a record high of $409 million annually,” he said. “This UMass-funded financial aid, bolstered by the historic expansion of MASSGrant Plus by the Healey-Driscoll administration and the Legislature, has enabled all undergraduate campuses to cover tuition and mandatory fees our most needy students.”

“There are few stronger long-term investments that Massachusetts students and their families can make than a UMass Lowell degree,” said Tom Golden, Lowell city manager and UMass Lowell graduate.

Lowell State’s elected leaders also praised the program.

State Senator Ed Kennedy said, “This is a great program for families across my state Senate district. I applaud UMass for using the tools available at the state level to ensure educational opportunities for local families.

“UMass Lowell continues to find ways to make the campus more accessible to the community and programs like this provide an incredible opportunity for working families to send their children to college,” said the representative. Vanna Howard State.

State Rep. Rodney Elliott said, “Programs like MASSGrant Plus ensure that a world-class college education is financially feasible here in Lowell for those who might never imagine themselves in college.

Students eligible for the MASSGrant Plus program will have 100% tuition and mandatory fees covered by a combination of federal, state and institutional aid. Eligibility and application details are available at mass.edu/osfa/programs/massgrantplus.asp.