Governor Hochul’s plan aims to provide free community college for select students to fill critical job vacancies in New York
Albany: Governor Hochul is pushing for free community college for students in certain programs at SUNY and CUNY. She shared this during her State of the State address on Tuesday.
This plan targets students aged 25 to 55, covering tuition and fees for associate programs in fields like nursing, education, technology, and engineering.
New York is facing a big shortage of nurses, with nearly 40,000 needed by 2030. Plus, the public school system in NYC needs about 17,000 more teachers to meet class size laws.
Hochul emphasized, “We’re going to make community college completely free for students age 25 to 55. Completely free. Everything. Books, transportation.”
She believes this will help New Yorkers save money while filling essential jobs in critical industries.
The idea is inspired by a similar program in Massachusetts, which started with older students but has since opened up to all ages.
Currently, over 200,000 community college students are enrolled in New York’s public university systems. About 28% at SUNY and 23% at CUNY are 25 or older.
While the governor’s office hasn’t explained why younger students are left out this time, they noted many eligible New Yorkers are working without a degree.
As part of the proposal, the state plans to increase funding for career services and infrastructure, as mentioned in her policy book.
CUNY estimates that for every dollar invested in this free community college plan, there will be a return of $21, factoring in future earnings and tax revenue. The cost will be included in the governor’s budget plan next week for negotiations with lawmakers.
The CUNY faculty and staff union welcomed the proposal, calling for free tuition for all students as part of a broader campaign for a New Deal for CUNY.
James Davis, the union president, expressed gratitude for the recognition of free tuition’s importance and pledged to continue advocating for broader access.
