Gov seeks ‘free’dom for comm. colleges
Gov. Cuomo’s office is in discussions with the White House about providing free tuition at New York’s community colleges, The Post has learned.
New York has among the highest communitycollege tuition in the nation — $4,800 at CUNY twoyear institutions and $4,200 for SUNY associate’s degree programs that enroll nearly 500,000 fulland parttime students.
Earlier this year, President Obama announced a proposal to provide communitycollege students with free tuition, but states are required to pick up 25 percent of the costs.
A source familiar with the AlbanyWhite House talks said Cuomo is offering up to $500 million to make community college tuitionfree.
While Congress has been cool to the Obama affordability pitch, White House officials have been quietly wooing state officials in New York and else where to join the campaign to make community college tuitionfree — either on their own or possibly through federal demonstration programs, sources familiar with the talks said.
“It’s easy for politicians to say young people are the future. But you’ve got to walk the walk,” Obama said earlier this month while visiting Macomb Community College in Warren, Mich.
According to the White House, 35 percent of job openings by 2020 will require at least a bachelor’s degree, and 30 percent will need at least some college experience or an associate’s degree.
Cuomo’s office Sunday confirmed the talks with federal officials.
“New York proudly spends nearly $1 billion a year in tuition assistance — $235 million of which is spent to assist communitycollege students. Much of that pays the whole tuition for communitycollege students,” said Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi.
“Federal officials approached us about their program, as I imagine they have with other states, and we’re reviewing the associated costs,” he added.
There are 65 programs across the country that offer communitycollege students free tuition, said NYU professor Martha Kanter, director of the notforprofit College Promise Campaign.