Cuomo’s ‘no escape’ college plan ‘deters moochers’

Gov. Cuomo put residency restrictions on public college students who will get free tuition to deter freeloaders, a top administration official said Tuesday.

State budget director Robert Mujica said more than 80 percent of current CUNY and SUNY students stay in the state after graduating.

But he said the free tuition grants could make New York a magnet for out-of-state moochers because it doesn’t take much to become eligible — just one year of residency.

“We want to make sure people don’t just come to the state to get free college and then go back to where they came from. We want to make sure New Yorkers benefit from the program,” Mujica said.

“New York taxpayers are paying for this.”

Under Cuomo’s program, students have to stay in New York one year for each year they receive free tuition. Those who move will have their tuition converted to loans.

The residency edict drew fire among some college students who will be getting the free education.

Anderson Reyes, 18, a freshman majoring in computer science at York College in Jamaica, gave a thumbs-down.

“I don’t agree with it. What if you can’t find a job here? Just give it to us free — no strings attached. I want to be able to choose where I want to go [after college].”