CUNY Reconnect at LaGuardia
Are you ready for a fresh start in your career? Now’s the time to take the first step: CUNY Reconnect is offering free enrollment in high-demand programs at CUNY community colleges to adult learners who haven’t yet earned a degree. Through CUNY Reconnect, we’ll cover your tuition, fees, books, and supplies, enabling you to get your associate degree at no cost.
Whether it’ll be your first time pursuing a college degree or you’ve earned a few credits but haven’t yet completed a degree, LaGuardia is here to provide you with the academic and financial support you need to move to the next level—learn more below.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the CUNY Reconnect program at LaGuardia, prospective students must:
- Be a resident of New York state
- Be between 25 and 55 years old at the start of their first semester
- Have never earned a degree (course credits and certificates are okay)
- File FAFSA and apply for NYS TAP or the NYS DREAM Act, if eligible.
- Matriculate into an approved associate degree program (see list of programs below)
- Enroll in at least 6 credits per semester, earning at least 12 credits per academic year
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress throughout the course of their studies
- Complete their degree program in 10 semesters or less
Free Associate Degree Programs at LaGuardia
CUNY Reconnect specifically focuses on associate degree programs that prepare students for a career in high-demand industries, such as advanced manufacturing, computer science/ cybersecurity, engineering, environmental science/ sustainability, healthcare, nursing, teaching, and technology.
Check out the associate programs at LaGuardia that are approved for free tuition through CUNY Reconnect and the New York State Opportunity Promise:
View the associate programs
Free Community College Interest Form
Frequently Asked Questions
To be eligible, you must:
- Be a resident of New York state
- Be between 25 and 55 years old at the start of their first semester
- Have never earned a degree (course credits and certificates are okay)
- File FAFSA and apply for NYS TAP or the NYS DREAM Act, if eligible.
- Matriculate into an approved associate degree program (see list of programs above)
- Enroll in at least 6 credits per semester, earning at least 12 credits per academic year
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress throughout the course of their studies
- Complete their degree program in 10 semesters or less
This program is available to new, transfer or continuing students already in an eligible program of study.
No. Students are automatically reviewed for CUNY Reconnect when they apply to a CUNY community college and file their FAFSA and NYS TAP.
Eligible applicants will receive tuition, mandatory fees, and the cost of books and supplies after all other financial aid has been applied. This does not include Federal Work-Study, student loans, or VA benefits.
Yes—however, you will only receive your CUNY Reconnect benefits if your new major is on the list of programs that have been approved for free tuition.
Students must remain in good academic standing.
Benefits are not paid during periods when you are not enrolled. However, if you stop out for one term, you can still remain in the program as long as you complete the required number of credits (12 per year) in the remaining terms of the calendar year.
Transfer students may transfer up to 30 credits from previous institutions toward their students at LaGuardia.