Governor Kathy Hochul joined students, faculty, and staff at LaGuardia Community College on Tuesday to celebrate a milestone for her free community college initiative for adults in high-demand fields. The CUNY and SUNY Reconnect program, set to begin in Fall 2025, has already drawn more than 16,500 applications from New Yorkers eager to take part.
The program is a part of Hochul’s 2025 State of the State address, and it’s a way for adults without a college degree or credentials to earn one at participating CUNY and SUNY campuses without going into debt. Hochul says that she wants to remove one of the main barriers to higher education – the money. That’s why tuition, fees, books, and supplies will be paid for through a financial aid system.
“The cost of pursuing a degree should never be a barrier for New Yorkers,” Hochul told the crowd. “We are proud to provide an opportunity for millions of CUNY and SUNY students to achieve their dreams… the Reconnect program continues to pave the way forward for students as they enter our State’s future workforce.”
The initiative targets careers in sectors where the need for skilled workers is urgent: advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, engineering, technology, nursing and allied health, renewable energy, and teaching in shortage areas. In addition to covering costs, the program funds academic advising, student success coaching, and other wrap-around services to help adult learners balance school with work and family responsibilities.
At Tuesday’s rally, leaders from across the CUNY system praised the program as a breakthrough for accessibility and workforce development. CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez called it “a clear message that it’s never too late to start or re-start your higher education journey.”
Board of Trustees Chair William C. Thompson Jr. noted the strong early interest, saying the flood of applications shows “adult New Yorkers are ready to take advantage of this opportunity to earn a tuition-free degree that will pay off for them and their families.”
LaGuardia Community College President Kenneth Adams emphasized the program’s potential for underserved populations, saying free community college “enhances the impact” of institutions like LaGuardia in changing lives and meeting labor market demands.
The support extends beyond campus leadership. State legislators, including Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, and Assemblymembers Alicia Hyndman and Claire Valdez, have commented on the initiave, sayinf that this isn’t just something to help people out; it’s a way to boost the state’s economy in the long run.
For the 4 million New Yorkers who qualify, the program offers more than a degree — it offers a path toward stability, opportunity, and participation in shaping the industries that will define the state’s next chapter.
