New York is the first state in the country that will be providing middle class families with free tuition starting in fall 2017, provided they work in state after graduation.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a piece of legislation Wednesday enacting the Excelsior Scholarship, which was passed as part of the fiscal year 2018 budget. The budget also includes $8 million to provide open educational resources, including e-books, to students at SUNY and CUNY colleges to help lower the cost of textbooks.

“By providing tuition-free college to thousands of middle class New Yorkers, we are restoring the promise of the American Dream for the next generation and forging a bold path forward of access and opportunity for the rest of the nation to follow,” Cuomo said in a SUNY press release. “With a college education now a necessity to succeed in today’s economy, I am proud to sign this first-in-the-nation legislation that will make college accessible, strengthen the middle class, and build a brighter future for all New Yorkers.”

The Excelsior Scholarship is expected to cut costs for middle class families that make up to $125,000 a year. This first-in-the-nation plan will be phased in over three years, beginning for families that make up to $100,000 in 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018 and $125,000 in 2019. For students to be eligible for the program, they must be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year college full-time. They must also maintain a grade point average necessary for the completion of coursework.

Stanley said Oswego State has a long-standing commitment to higher education access, college completion and cost predictability.

“We look forward to further expanding our support of students and their families as a result of this budget agreement,” Stanley said.

According to the New York State website, 37,922 families in Central New York have college-age students, and 79.6 percent of those families will be eligible. In total, out of 942,186 families in New York State with college-age students, 75.7 percent will be eligible to receive the Excelsior Scholarship.

“We applaud Governor Cuomo and the legislature on a budget agreement that helps make college more affordable to a greater number of New York students and families. said Oswego State President Deborah Stanley. The Excelsior Scholarship expands access to many more deserving students and the five-year tuition plan approved ensures college costs are predictable and transparent for all SUNY students and their families.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s first proposal of the Excelsior Scholarship was in his 2017 State of the State and did not include the recent addition, requiring scholarship recipients to stay in the state and work after graduation for the number of years they receive the scholarship. 

Noah Sheehan, a sophomore, said he is worried because all of the students that use the scholarship are required to stay in New York State after graduation.

“While I appreciate this step toward a fair education for everyone, I can’t help but worry about an oversaturated job market in the future,” Sheehan said.

Sophomore Nathaniel Bates said free tuition is a good idea.

“It will allow bright minds to be able to better themselves with less of a burden on debt or affording it,” Bates said.

Bates said he does not believe that free tuition will devalue education.

“I believe a majority of people who don’t go to college don’t go because they do not learn that way and do not wish to lead that lifestyle, not because they can’t afford it,” Bates said. “While it may be expensive and colleges may charge for more such as room, board and other fees, it will better educate the masses to make us better people.”

While the Excelsior Scholarship will help future students, undergraduate students graduating this spring and current graduate students, are not eligible.

Some graduate students and students finishing their undergraduate degree this year, including graduate student Melinda Fatiga, were hoping for a forgiveness plan.

“I’m envious because since I already finished my undergraduate studies, I am not eligible,” Fatiga said.

Fatiga also said she has mixed feelings about the program.

“A part of me thinks it’s a good thing because future students will have less debt,” Fatiga said. “However, I don’t think it’s a great idea because when you don’t have to pay for schooling, you might not try as hard.”

Cuomo said by making college accessible to thousands of students, it shows the difference that a government can make.

“There is no child who will go to sleep tonight and say, ‘I have great dreams, but I don’t believe I’ll be able to get a college education because parents can’t afford it,’” Cuomo said in a SUNY press release. “With this program, every child will have the opportunity that education provides.”