New York Governor Kathy Hochul announces a plan to implement free tuition for residents wanting to obtain an associate degree in certain fields.
The proposed plan will offer adult learners ages 25-55 the opportunity to obtain free education at community colleges for high-demand work fields, including nursing, teaching, technology, and engineering.
New York is an around-the-clock working city. Opening the door for more residents to receive better education will not only help them gain access to higher-paying jobs but also improve the lives of their families.
“Under my plan, every New Yorker will have the chance to pursue a free associate degree at SUNY and CUNY community colleges to help fill the in-demand jobs of tomorrow,” Governor Hochul said.
A plan is a good start, but a solid partnership is what truly drives change. Currently, New York students from families earning under $125,000 can attend SUNY and CUNY schools tuition-free, regardless of their degree program. For nearly 200 years, CUNY schools were free for New York residents until the policy was discontinued during the city’s financial crisis in 1976.
New York community colleges aren’t the only ones opening up their doors to lower-income households. Institutions such as Cornell University, MIT, and Columbia University have established free tuition for certain programs. Additionally, companies that Target, Walmart, and Chipotle have partnered with the Guild Education Fund to provide free education to their employees.
Education is vital in this country. There have been many situations where a family invested all of their resources into making sure the younger generation could afford opportunities that they never had.
Eliminating these financial barriers could lead to a more stable economy while also reducing stress and anxiety in households across America.
