Making college tuition-free for middle class New Yorkers

Over the last six years, my administration has worked tirelessly to ease the burden on middle class families throughout New York.

From cutting property taxes to alleviating student loan debt, we’re continually striving to improve lives and increase economic opportunity for middle class New Yorkers.

This year, we’re taking another big step toward that goal: Today, alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, I unveiled a plan to offer free tuition at SUNY and CUNY two- and four-year colleges.

New York is the State of Opportunity and a college education must be accessible to all, not a luxury that only the wealthy can afford.

Please join me if you believe college should be affordable to all middle class New Yorkers.

Under this first-in-the-nation plan, the Excelsior Scholarship, families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year would qualify to attend college tuition-free at any state university or college.

Student loan debt continues to soar nationwide and is the second largest source of consumer debt. In 2015, the average student loan debt in New York was $29,320.

This program will alleviate the crushing burden of student debt and enable thousands of New Yorkers to realize their dream of a college education.

I’m thrilled that this plan will provide more New Yorkers with the education they need to compete and succeed in a global economy, and place more families on a path toward financial security.

Join me in support of this plan if you believe college education should be a right, not a luxury.

I hope you are as excited about this program as I am, and will support New York’s efforts to lead the way on college affordability.