Western New York College Now Offering Free Tuition

Nationwide, more than 50% of the population has only a high school diploma as their highest degree level, and that number looks like it's trending down. It's a well-known fact that the more education you receive in life, the higher your income tends to be.

According to the most recent data from the US Census Bureau, nearly all people over the age of 18 have seen the average income gain with more education than those with only a high school degree. This would lead us to understand that the more training you get, the better off you end up financially. However, getting more education is often difficult for people as college is becoming more expensive than it ever has been.

Understanding that, and to help people in the Empire State, it looks like the State University of New York system is doing something about it.

SUNY Erie Offering Free Tuition For Several College Programs

In an announcement that came with great fanfare this week, the SUNY system is now beginning to make college tuition free for several programs at Community Colleges around the state.

The SUNY Reconnect program offers a special scholarship to people between the ages of 25 and 55 to earn a free associate's degree in several highly demanded educational tracks.

The Opportunity Promise Scholarship will cover the costs of tuitions, school fees, books, and supplies that are needed to complete a degree.

Colleges like SUNY Erie now offer free tuition in programs like Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Green and Renewable Energy, Nursing, and more.

The SUNY Reconnect program, launching for the Fall 2025 term, will help break barriers to a college degree and provide financial support and flexibility for adult students to enroll, and more importantly, to succeed through to graduation at one of our excellent community colleges.
-John B. King Jr., Chancellor of the State University of New York

This program starts this fall for people who begin school in August 2025. More information about the program can be found on the SUNY Erie website.