Is there a tuition-free comm. college or state school program in your state?

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Saw this story recently....free medical school in NY




I'd heard of community college and state university (undergrad) programs before, but free med school in America is extremely rare.

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Is there a tuition free education program open to residents of your state? Are any members of your family taking advantage of it?

 

[Squirrel from Meteor Man]

New York State has programs but the catch-all is that the assistance kicks in after you have received all of your other aid (TAP, loans, etc), basically it covers whatever is remaining. Better than nothing, but there’s fine print.

 

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For 13,000 in NJ, tuition-free community college starts this week
Michael Symons
January 20, 2019
Union County College

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The spring semester begins this week at many New Jersey colleges – and for around 13,000 students at 13 community colleges, it will be no-fee and tuition-free for the first time because of a new state grant program.

Community College Opportunity Grant program pays for whatever tuition and approved educational fees aren’t covered by federal and state need-based aid and merit scholarships, for students with adjusted gross incomes of $45,000 or less.

David Socolow, executive director of the state Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, said students who have already filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, are automatically considered for the program without having to do anything.

“If they didn’t fill out their FAFSA, and they’re going to community college this spring at one of those 13 pilot institutions for at least six credits, at least half time, they have until Feb. 15 to complete that FAFSA,” Socolow said.

Socolow said the state won’t know until April how many students receive grants through the program but estimates it will be around 13,000.

“We’ll see what happens. We hope for more,” Socolow said. “The goal is to have as many students who can benefit from county college attend, so that we can increase the total number of people in our society and our workforce who have a post-secondary education that will help them in their careers and help our economy.”

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“For many students, it’s already essentially free because of the aid that they’re getting but there are a number of students who are paying out of pocket or taking out loans to go to county college," he said.

The budget for the program is $25 million, which included money for planning grants for the colleges. That wasn’t as much money as Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration had requested, so it was limited in its first year to the spring semester and to 13 pilot colleges.

State officials hope the program also leads to an increase in federal student aid into New Jersey.

“There have been numerous studies that have shown that students don’t fill out the application for student aid, the FAFSA, because they think that it’s not available for them. But that when they do fill it out, lots of students turn out to be eligible for aid,” Socolow said.

“And we believe that of the close to a third of students attending community college who do not complete the FAFSA, that many of them are going to turn out to be eligible for aid,” he said. “And we hope that this will encourage them to do so.”

The pilot colleges:

• Atlantic Cape Community College
• Bergen Community College
• Camden County College
• Cumberland County College
• Hudson County Community College
• Mercer County Community College
• Middlesex County College
• Ocean County College
• Passaic County Community College
• Rowan College at Gloucester County
• Salem Community College
• Union County College
• Warren County Community College

Those not in the program: Brookdale Community College, Rowan College at Burlington County, County College of Morris, Essex County College, Raritan Valley Community College and Sussex County Community College.

The Murphy administration hopes to expand it to both semesters next academic year and the six of 19 community colleges not included in the pilot program – but that depends on what’s in the state budget due to be approved in June.

 

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• 

Cuomo to Propose Statewide Child Care Program at Community Colleges
February 22, 2019 | : by Monica Levitan

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is planning on asking lawmakers to approve a proposal that would give on-campus child care services for single parents enrolled at community colleges throughout the state.

If approved, the proposal would establish the Family Empowerment Community College Pilot program for up to 400 community college students, according to ABC-affiliate station WHAM13.

Child care can be a key challenge for single parents who want to earn a college degree, Cuomo said.


Andrew Cuomo

Child care services would also be available on college campuses, Cuomo’s office said. Community college students who are single parents and participate in the program would have access to tutoring services and assistance in applying to four-year institutions.

Cuomo’s proposal is part of the Women’s Justice Agenda recently announced by New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa.

“We want to ensure that single parents are provided with the resources they need, including child care and career counseling, to pursue a college education and ensure professional success,” Hochul said in a statement.

Several community colleges currently have child care services on their campuses.

Cayuga’s child care program serves over 80 children, according to the Auburn Pub. The program is open to students, staff and members of the Cayuga community.

Although child care services are available at some community colleges, it is still a concern for single parents pursuing a college education. A recent Monroe Community College study determined that single parents who used their school’s child care services experienced an on-time graduation rate three times higher than single parents who didn’t use the service.

Co-founder and co-president of the legal advocacy organization A Better Balance, Dina Bakst, led the plan to establish a child care pilot program at New York’s community colleges.

“All too often, single mothers are unable to access higher education and job opportunities,” Bakst said. “By providing women with everything from on-campus child care to advisement and educational supports, the pilot program will help lift women out of poverty and set them up for economic success.”

 

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California joins a handful of other states that provide community college tuition-free

By Kendall Trammell, CNN August 28, 2019


(CNN)California will provide free tuition for two years of community college to first-time, full-time California students.

California governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to increase the 2019-2020 state budget to $42.6 million. This expansion allows the California College Promise program to make a second year of free community college tuition possible for approximately 33,000 students.
"This is real help for students trying to improve their lives and build their future," Newsom said in a statement Tuesday. He called it a "meaningful step toward chipping away at the cost of higher learning for students and their families."
The California Community Colleges are the largest system of higher education in the United States. It serves about 2.1 million students, which is roughly one-quarter of the nation's community college students.
More states are adopting or working toward scholarship programs that increase the number of students attending college. Twelve states, including California, have enacted statewide promise programs, according to Campaign for Free College Tuition. Eight have some state legislative activity.

 

[ABlackMan]

South carolina could use this. should use this. need more talent/arts driven programs/schools in south in general

 

[hashmander]

New York State has programs but the catch-all is that the assistance kicks in after you have received all of your other aid (TAP, loans, etc), basically it covers whatever is remaining. Better than nothing, but there’s fine print.

are you sure they require you to get loans and you're not talking about the grants you're eligible for? because if they require you to seek out loans then loans would cover everything, you'll just be deep in debt. but if they require you to apply for all the federal and state grants that you're eligible for before paying what's left then that's a great deal.

 

[Squirrel from Meteor Man]

are you sure they require you to get loans and you're not talking about the grants you're eligible for? because if they require you to seek out loans then loans would cover everything, you'll just be deep in debt. but if they require you to apply for all the federal and state grants that you're eligible for before paying what's left then that's a great deal.

I have to get the exact details but I think you may be more in line with the process. I believe after any student aid kicks in (not loans), they cover the rest of your tuition, which is a good deal.

The loans come into play for room and board, which I believe the NYS program doesn’t cover at all.

 

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Cornell University’s Medical School to Give Full Scholarships to Students in Need

by Marie Cyprien
October 4, 2019



It’s no secret that an Ivy League education costs a lot of money, or that students pursuing graduate degrees are usually on the hook for even more student loan debt. However, one school is changing that by offering qualifying students a full scholarship. Cornell University joins a list of institutions around the country that have begun to push for a less expensive college education in order to give students much more access.

Weill Cornell Medicine, part of Cornell University, recently announced that it would “eliminate medical education debt for all students who qualified for financial aid, starting with the students that entered the program this fall,” according to CNN.

This means that the students will not only get a top-notch college education, but they will be able to graduate without having to worry about debt and its potential negative effect on their future.

“By replacing student loans with scholarships that cover tuition, housing, and other living expenses, the programs ensure that all students, including those from economically diverse backgrounds, can pursue their medical education without financial burden,” the university said in a statement to CNN.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average student debt for medical students last year was a little more than $196,000. And more than 70% of medical education graduates walked out with debt.

The university also stated that this impactful decision was made possible by gifts from donors, which round up to more than $160 million.

“This bold initiative to eliminate medical education student debt ensures that every student who wishes to become a doctor can do so—for their betterment and for the patients they serve,” Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack said in a statement. “By investing in our medical students, we impart a lasting, positive effect on the healthcare landscape across the country.”

 

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Chicago State Offers Free Tuition Plan for Some Incoming Freshmen This Fall
June 17, 2020



Chicago State University said it is offering a free tuition plan for some incoming freshmen this coming fall. The plan is part of a broader initiative to close Chicago’s Black and Latinx education and wealth gap.


Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, Esq.

Under the free tuition plan, admitted incoming freshmen who successfully complete a five-week summer program at the university’s new Rise Academy will receive a full-tuition and fee scholarship, free textbooks, and free laptops and internet service for the 2020-21 academic year. The university announcement didn’t say whether the five-week program is being provided free of cost.

All incoming full-time freshmen students at Chicago State, including transfer students with fewer than 24 credit hours who complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), are eligible to participate in the program. Students who successfully complete the program – that includes study skills workshops and study labs – will earn three college credits before the fall semesters begins. The program will be delivered remotely and will be offered on two start dates: June 29 and July 20.

The broader initiative to close the education gap includes microgrants and scholarships, financial education, workforce preparedness training, access to a food pantry and other support while at university. The initiative is supported “by a reallocation of current funding” and new gifts from corporate and foundation partners.

“With this bold action, Chicago State University is sending the message to prospective students and families across the state and region, we are here for you,” said Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, Esq., president of Chicago State University. “Current events amplify the challenges and underscore the need to address the range of obstacles that create roadblocks for students and families seeking to enroll in college and earn a college degree.

 

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