New York Governor Proposes Free Community College for In-Demand Majors
Credit: J. Conrad Williams Jr. / Newsday RM / Getty Images- The new free college initiative is for students ages 25-55 pursuing in-demand careers.
- If passed by the New York Legislature, the plan would also include enhancing infrastructure to help students transition to careers after college.
- Gov. Kathy Hochul also plans to revamp cybersecurity degrees, adjust requirements for entry-level cybersecurity jobs, and support more apprenticeship programs.
New York students ages 25-55, who are looking to go to college for the most in-demand careers, may go to community college for free — thanks to a new proposed initiative by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
In her 2025 State of the State address, Hochul announced the NYS Opportunity Promise for free college for students at State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) schools. It’s for learners who are pursuing associate degrees in high-demand fields like healthcare and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
“Higher education can be the pathway to economic opportunity, and Gov. Hochul has proposed a bold initiative to provide a free community college education to adults ages 25-55 without a college degree who want to pursue a high-demand career in fields like advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, IT (information technology), AI (artificial intelligence), healthcare, and green jobs,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and the SUNY board of trustees.
“Gov. Hochul’s community college agenda will literally transform lives for hard-working New Yorkers.”
In addition to free tuition, the state would also pay for books, supplies, and fees; help students transition to careers; and increase funding to apprenticeship providers.
Fields that qualify for the program include:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Artificial intelligence
- Construction
- Cybersecurity
- Engineering
- Green and renewable energy
- Nursing and allied health fields
- Pathways to teaching in shortage areas
- Technology
Hochul also announced a revamp of the cybersecurity field by removing many four-year degree requirements for entry-level and early career positions. She also plans to create a cybersecurity fellows program at SUNY and CUNY to place students in the state government.
The plan now goes to the New York Legislature for approval.
Students who do not qualify for the new initiative may still be eligible for the Excelsior Scholarship for in-state U.S. citizens or NYS Dreamer students from families making $125,000 or less per year. The scholarship covers tuition for SUNY or CUNY institutions and statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University.
Undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students can qualify for the scholarship by applying for state financial aid.
Hochul has prioritized removing barriers to college for New York students.
In January 2024, Hochul expanded the state’s direct admissions program to guarantee that the top 10% of New York students from 68 participating school districts would be directly admitted to SUNY and CUNY institutions. The program launched in October 2024, with the first cohort entering nine participating SUNY campuses in 2025.
A few months later, she expanded the tuition assistance program, which awarded qualifying full- and part-time students anywhere from $1,000-$5,665, up from a minimum of $500. The initiative impacted almost 50,000 students and is available to New York residents who are U.S. citizens and undocumented and DACA students.
“I’m grateful to Gov. Hochul, whose new proposals, which build on recent investments establishing the CUNY School of Medicine as an independent institution and expanding our Associates of Applied Science College Apprenticeship program, will ensure the nation’s most diverse and largest public urban university remains an engine of upward mobility for all New Yorkers,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez.