Five years ago, New York made college free for residents: how the program works

Even though college enrollments have declined since the start of the Covid pandemic, many still want to graduate in the US. For some, free education programs are the only way to make higher education a reality. In 2017, the New York State Excelsior Scholarship hit the headlines. It was the first program in the country to cover four years of college education for low-income local residents without being tied to academic performance. CNBC.

New York City initially said that more than 940 teens from families with annual incomes up to $000 could qualify for Excelsior. The program extends to all divisions of the City University of New York (CUNY) and the State University of New York (SUNY).

But as of the end of this academic year, just under 73 students have received scholarships allowing them to attend CUNY or SUNY for free.

A separate study found that among CUNY first-year students, only about 25% of eligible students are Excelsior recipients. And students with the lowest income most often do not get into the program.

According to report author Judith Scott-Clayton, an economics professor, approximately two-thirds (or 68%) of the funds allocated to the program go to students from families with incomes of at least $70 a year. According to her, the application process can become an obstacle to participation in the program.

“There aren't many students in CUNY who receive this scholarship,” Scott-Clayton said. “And more students who could qualify for free tuition don’t go to college at all.”

On the subject: How much does higher education cost in the USA and how much does it cost to study at colleges in New York

To be sure, the Covid pandemic has had a devastating impact on college enrollment across the country. At last count, the number of undergraduate students has declined by nearly 2020 million (1,4%) since 9,4.

The number of enrollments continues to decline

“College enrollment continues to decline,” said Doug Shapiro, executive director of the National Research Center Student Clearinghouse. Potential applicants are experiencing growing concerns about paying tuition debt and questioning the value of a degree. As the US economy creates new jobs and raises wages, some are opting to take advantage of expanding job opportunities and avoid pursuing higher education.

Community colleges that cater to low-income students have been hardest hit. This spring enrollment is down 7,8% from last year, down about 351.

Other Free College Programs

While the Biden administration's plan to make community colleges free for two years has stalled, the free college movement is advancing in many parts of the country. States make higher education free of charge at the level of local legislative decisions.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham recently signed the Scholarship Act into law. And created the most extensive local scholarship program in the country.

Other programs typically offer students two years of free college or trade school education.

Most of these, like the Excelsior Scholarship, are so-called “last dollar” scholarships. This means that the program only pays for tuition that is not covered by existing local or federal financial assistance. President Joe Biden recently signed a spending bill that includes an increase in the amount of money the federal government allocates for Pell grants, effectively reducing the cost to states of providing free programs at community colleges.