Free In-State Community College Tuition For Families That Make Up To $100,000

By ZACH LAIRD, InDepth NH

MANCHESTER, NH — Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Dr. Chuck Lloyd, chancellor of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) held a press conference Wednesday about an initiative that will provide free tuition at any in-state community college for students from families that make up to $100,000.

Ayotte explained at Manchester Community College that she will be working with the legislature to get the initiative titled the “Community College Promise Program” enacted by the beginning of the fall 2027 semester. It will also be included in Ayotte’s recommended state budget for fiscal year 2028-2029. The University System of New Hampshire (USNH) previously released a similar program that provided students with free tuition for families making up to $100,000.

“When we think about the impact of our community college system, we want to make sure that that system is accessible and affordable for everyone in our state… I’m very excited to get behind this; I look forward to working with the legislature to get this done. I, frankly, think this could be the single most important thing we can do for the workforce in the state, for our business partners, our young people, and also those who are going back in a second career, to make sure we can grow New Hampshire (and) that they can stay right here and have a great career,” Ayotte said.

The proposal would cover remaining tuition costs after federal and state financial aid is applied for any of the state’s seven community colleges. Both new (and) returning students would be eligible to participate starting in the fall 2027 semester if they meet the program’s requirements. The program does not cover the fees for applying.

Ayotte also provided a list of requirements for eligible students:

• Be a New Hampshire resident
• Be admitted to one of New Hampshire’s seven community colleges
• Have a total family income of up to $100,00 with typical assets
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet all federal financial aid eligibility requirements
• Utilize all state and federal grant funding with the Promise Program covering all the remaining tuition balance
• Enroll in at least six credits per semester
• Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, and meet federal satisfactory academic progress standards

Lloyd said the CCSNH’s mission is about access and affordability and that Ayotte hit both of those nails on the head with the new initiative. He said it’s not just about the back end of student graduates but also about getting others through the front door. Lloyd added that there will be a variety of different programs to choose from, such as trades and health programs.

Lloyd also said that the Community College Promise will take “a big bite out of that gap in our workforce for the state of New Hampshire, so I applaud the Governor (Ayotte) for being so bold and making this monumental decision for us.”

According to data from NHEconomy.com, the state is expected to have a gap in the top occupations over the next ten years. General and Operations Managers are expected to see the largest shortage with a gap of 11,905 jobs; Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers will see a gap of 9,384; Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers will see a gap of 9,235; Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing will have a gap of 8,070; Registered Nurses will also see a gap of 7,946.

Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said the initiative is personal for him as both his parents started their educational careers at community colleges, which helped them go on to earn master’s degrees elsewhere. He said he recognizes the importance of the program for students both in Manchester and across the state (and) the difference it’s going to make for both students and businesses.

This story was originally published by InDepth NH.