Advancing College Affordability

Governor Cuomo's Excelsior Scholarship proposal secures college affordability for middle and working class families across New York State. Tuition free, public higher education for families making under $125,000 per year means opening access to opportunity for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers - upholding a cherished tradition of access to our CUNY and SUNY schools.

I believe we need to open those doors of opportunity still further. Young people coming out of foster care may need additional support to take advantage of tuition free, public higher education. The costs of room and board, books, and other necessary college supplies may pose obstacles to these young people that the proposed Excelsior Scholarships should take into account. I propose building on Governor Cuomo’s excellent idea of truly accessible public higher education and making sure young people, no matter their family background, have access to the higher education they deserve.