As a result, Fort Devens, which had served as a mustering ground and internment camp during the war,[2] was converted into a college by the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees in 1946.
The initial plan was to have the campus open for two years while the wave of returning servicemen filtered through the college system.
Those plans were later changed to allow Devens State to remain open for as long as it took all veterans to receive 4-year degrees.
That fall the school opened with 1,310 enrolled students and saw its attendance increase to 1,700 for the spring semester.
While it was active, Devens State offered courses in language arts, science, agriculture, engineering, and business administration.