Uncapped Participation: Thousands flock to New York State's free community college program for adults
Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the launch of a new free-tuition program for adults aged 25-55, set to commence in fall 2025. The initiative, named Reconnect, aims to make education more affordable and accessible, reflecting the state's commitment to "investing in our human capital."
The program covers tuition, fees, books, and supplies for residents in this age group, enrolled in eight eligible high-demand fields: advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, technology, nursing and allied health, green and renewable energy, and pathways to teaching in shortage areas. These opportunities are available at SUNY and CUNY campuses statewide, offering flexible scheduling and online options to accommodate working adults.
As of mid-August 2025, more than 16,500 adults have applied to the program for fall enrollment, with no cap on how many applicants can be accepted annually. The program is separate from federal budget pressures and continues to build its infrastructure to meet the early demand and continue responding to the needs of the workforce.
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez stated that the Reconnect program aims to build on existing degree programs while responding to early demand. The application process for the Reconnect program is similar to any other, according to the Deputy Secretary for Education, Maria Fernandez.
The Reconnect program reflects the state's efforts to help fill shortages in nursing, allied health, and other critical sectors. The program was announced at LaGuardia Community College and covers tuition, fees, books, and supplies for residents aged 25 to 55 enrolled in over 180 high-demand programs at SUNY and over 120 at CUNY.
Each college has designated which programs fit into the specific high-demand fields, and if eligible for financial aid, everything else will be paid for the students. If not eligible for financial aid, everything gets paid for the students in the Reconnect program. The program expands on CUNY's existing Reconnect initiative and launches SUNY's version this fall.
Additional supports include academic advising and student success coaching to help with retention and completion. The initiative aims to help the approximately four million working-age New Yorkers without a college degree gain credentials in fields critical to the state’s workforce needs.
[1] New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.hesc.ny.gov/ [2] New York State Education Department. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.nysed.gov/ [3] City University of New York. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.cuny.edu/ [4] State University of New York. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.suny.edu/ [5] LaGuardia Community College. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.laguardia.edu/
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