NY Gov. Hochul pushes 'free' community college plan for some adults, ages 25-55

(The Center Square) — Some New Yorkers would be able to attend community colleges ‘free’ of charge under a proposal by Gov. Kathy Hochul, which comes in response to rising tuition costs and a lack of financial aid that’s putting a college degree out of reach for many students.

The $28 million proposal, which requires legislative approval, would allow adults ages 25 to 55 to attend state-run community colleges for free if they pursue associate degrees in high-demand fields like health care, engineering, cyber security or advanced manufacturing. The governor's plan would cover tuition, fees, textbooks and other supplies.

Hochul said the proposal would expand New York's workforce and generate higher-paying jobs by helping working-age adults get a community college degree in key industries struggling to find workers.

"We have jobs open in those fields right now and hopefully this will incentivize more young people or people early in their careers or someone who wants to transition into an existing career," Hochul said in remarks earlier this week at Onondaga Community College. "We can reshape the future of thousands and thousands of New Yorkers and create a pipeline of skilled workers to go into our businesses."

The Hochul administration said more than 4 million working-age New Yorkers lack a college degree or a professional credential.

State University of New York Chancellor John King said Hochul's plan would be "life-changing" for many families and help the state attract and retain new job-creating private employers.

"This will not only be good for the New Yorkers who directly benefit, but this will also be good for the New York employers," King said. "You think about a company like Micron coming to Central New York. They are going to need a lot of people to work at the chip fab and the supply chain companies. This investment is going to help us prepare that workforce."

To be sure, New Yorkers already get reduced tuition at the network of 90 state and community colleges. The state also provides free school tuition for residents earning less than $125,000 annually.

"When my dad got a college education, our whole family got a shot at a better life — and I want every New Yorker to have that opportunity," Hochul said.

At least 35 states, including Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, offer community college students reduced or eliminated tuition costs for their degrees, according to the Campaign for Free College Tuition, an advocacy group.

More than 44 million Americans are struggling with student loan debt, which surpassed $1.7 trillion last year, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

In Congress, a group of progressive lawmakers have filed a proposal to make college free for most families, a plan that would be paid for by setting a new tax on stock and bond transactions.

The College for All Act, co-sponsored by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, would cancel student debt, guarantee tuition-free community college for all students and allow students from families earning less than $125,000 to attend a public college or university at no charge, among other provisions. But the plan faces long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress.