Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday launched a free community college program for adult learners ages 25 to 55 pursuing degrees in high-demand fields.
The program covers tuition, books and fees, expanding access to higher education and career mobility for New Yorkers without a prior degree at the State University of New York and City University of New York.
“The cost of pursuing a degree should never be a barrier for New Yorkers — that’s why we’re opening the doors of opportunity at SUNY and CUNY so that students can achieve their dreams,” Hochul said in a statement.
The SUNY and CUNY Reconnect programs aim to connect New Yorkers with opportunities and strengthen the state’s workforce. Eligible students can enroll in programs in fields such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, technology, nursing and allied health, green and renewable energy and pathways to teaching in shortage areas.
SUNY and CUNY will receive funding for academic advising, student success coaching and other wraparound services.
The SUNY program builds on the success of CUNY Reconnect, which launched in 2022. By fall 2024, the program had supported more than 40,000 New Yorkers in returning to college. The new plan expands these efforts by offering tuition-free pathways tied directly to the needs of New York’s job market.
SUNY Reconnect is scheduled to launch in fall 2025 and will serve as a tool for advancing economic mobility among working adults. Community colleges will host information sessions this summer to help prospective students learn about eligible programs and begin the enrollment process.
Applications can be accessed by clicking here for SUNY Reconnect and here for CUNY Reconnect programs.
