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��ý Professor John Veitch works with two students in a Mechatronics class

SUNY Reconnect

More than 4 million adults in New York do not have a college degree. SUNY Reconnect is designed so you don’t have to be one of them. If you are 25 to 55 years old and do not yet have a college degree, SUNY Reconnect can help you earn an associate degree in a high‑demand field at ��ý with no tuition cost.

Earn an associate degree — for free.

As New York leads the way with emerging industries such as health care, the semiconductor industry and advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, IT and AI, education and green jobs, we are committed to ensuring you have the degree you need to fill these well-paying, high-demand careers.

SUNY Reconnect makes earning an associate degree in a high-demand field free for adults between the ages of 25 and 55 with no college degree.

At ��ý, you can earn a degree in:

Apply for financial aid

Reconnect-eligible programs cannot be completed entirely online. Select courses are available in an online format.

Adult education

��ý Class of 2003 alum Nathan Pallace presents about his career as a medical photographer in the Visual Arts Gallery

I had to rediscover myself, reinvent myself and figure out education. I got my footing at ��ý. I just immersed myself and really appreciated education for the first time."

Nathan Pallace Medical photographer for the Mayo Clinic in Arizona 2003

Here for you

More info for adults

Graduates walk into the 2023 Commencement ceremony at Cool Insuring Arena.

Flexible scheduling

We offer classes online, in person in Queensbury and Wilton, and in a "high-flex" format so you choose how you learn.

A graduate holds an infant after the ceremony

Support systems

Our dedicated advisors help you every step of the way, until the day you walk across the stage at commencement.

Learn more

Students undergo PCA training

Experience counts

We know not every lesson is learned in the classroom, so we offer advanced standing, granting credit for classes, work and military experience, and exams.

Turn your experience into credits

Am I Eligible for a Free Associate Degree?

You may qualify for SUNY Reconnect at ��ý if:

You are 25 to 55 years old.
You live in New York and qualify for in‑state tuition.
You enroll in an eligible associate degree program in a high‑demand field.
You take at least 6 credits per semester (12 credits per academic year).
You do not yet have a college degree, though you may have some prior college credits, a certificate or microcredential.

If you are not sure whether you meet these requirements, a ��ý advisor can help you review your situation.

How SUNY Reconnect Works

Apply to ��ý and choose an eligible SUNY Reconnect associate degree program in a high‑demand field.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply for New York state aid such as TAP.
Work with ��ý advisors to review your prior credits, select courses and build a schedule that fits your work and family responsibilities.
Enroll in at least 6 credits per semester so you stay eligible for SUNY Reconnect support.
Your tuition, mandatory fees, books and supplies are covered after your financial aid is applied, so you can focus on finishing your degree.

FAQs

We know you have questions, and we want to answer them all.

SUNY Reconnect is SUNY's free community college program for New York adults. Through the New York State Opportunity Promise scholarship, SUNY Reconnect provides free associate degrees in high-demand fields for New Yorkers 25 to 55 with no college degree. The program aims to help connect New Yorkers with good-paying jobs while boosting economic growth in key industries across New York state.

The program covers the costs of tuition, mandatory fees, books and supplies after other forms of tuition assistance, such as NYS TAP, are applied.

Eligible student requirements include:

Resident of New York state or eligible for in-state tuition
Between the ages of 25 and 55 as of the first day of the semester
Does not have a degree
Can have college credits, certificate, or microcredential(s)
Take at least six credits per semester
Enrolled in approved associate degree program at a SUNY community college
Students must complete the before the end of the semester AND a determination must be made by in the semester in which the student is enrolled to be eligible for SUNY Reconnect funding

Yes. As long as you do not already have a college degree, you may still qualify even if you have prior college credits, a certificate or microcredential.

Yes. You can attend part time, but you must enroll in at least 6 credits per semester and 12 credits per academic year to stay eligible for SUNY Reconnect.

SUNY Reconnect is designed to cover your tuition, mandatory fees, books and supplies after your financial aid is applied, so you should complete the FAFSA and New York State aid applications.

Many ��ý programs offer a mix of in‑person, hybrid and online courses, but not all SUNY Reconnect‑eligible programs can be completed fully online. An advisor can help you understand your options.

Advisors will help you choose a pace and schedule that fit your responsibilities, and ��ý offers support services such as tutoring, technology help and child care for eligible student‑parents.

The State University of New York offers a .

Free. No catch or hassle.

Want to advance your career or start on a new path?

Broadening horizons

��ý students Jonathan Boston and Beth Belair talk about how SUNY Reconnect makes college possible for them.

Information sessions

Attend a convenient online info session to ask questions and learn more about how you can earn a degree through SUNY Reconnect. Sessions will be held via Zoom at:

5 p.m. Wednesday, May 6;
6 p.m. Thursday, May 21;
noon Saturday, June 6;
5 p.m. Monday, June 29;
6 p.m. Thursday, July 16;
6 p.m. Wednesday, July 29;
2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15; and
5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25

Alumni highlights

Throughout the Spring 2025 edition of Community Roots, you will read about alumni who work in high-need fields. Each of their careers was built at ��ý. Today, state investment through SUNY Reconnect offers those ages 25 to 55 an opportunity to pursue a degree in fields in dire need.

Image of Adirondack Hall in the summer with a blue sky and picnic table in the foreground

What support will I receive?

As an adult learner at ��ý, you will have access to:

Dedicated academic advising focused on adult and returning students.
Flexible scheduling options, including day, evening and some online classes when available.
Tutoring, library resources and technology support to help you succeed.
Career services to connect your degree with in‑demand jobs in the region.
Campus services such as financial aid counseling and, for eligible students, on‑campus child care.

Our goal is to make it realistic for you to attend college, balance your responsibilities and complete a degree.

Ready to upgrade your career?

Programs included in Reconnect are in areas deemed in high demand by the New York State Department of Labor. At ��ý, they include:

Adolescence Education Mathematics Studies

��ý's degree in Adolescence Education Mathematics Studies transforms students into educators. This degree prepares graduates for further education with foundational knowledge in mathematics.

Learn more about Mathematics Studies at ��ý

Computer Science

Combine your new thought processes with our state-of-the-art technology and learn problem-solving solutions.

Learn more about Computer Science at ��ý

A student works on equipment in a Computer Science lab on campus

Criminal Justice: Substance Use and Addiction Services

Students gain new perspectives in psychology, sociology and substance abuse, against a backdrop of the criminal justice system.

Learn about Substance Abuse Services at ��ý

Jamie Munyon, an alum of ��ý and director of Open Door, stands outside the facility

Cybersecurity and Networking

Study a high-demand specialty, identifying and counteracting network vulnerabilities and threats.

Learn about Cybersecurity and Networking at ��ý

��ý alum Brendan Sullivan

Early Childhood/Childhood Education

��ý's degree in Early Childhood/Childhood Education has a wide range of teacher-education discipline options to support aspiring educators.

Learn about Childhood Education at ��ý

Engineering Science

Learn to build structures and improve processes to shape progress.

Learn about Engineering Science at ��ý

��ý Engineering Science alum Tyler Coons works at Tymetal

Environmental Science

Explore your passion for the environment and sustainability, and examine environmental issues, sustainability and the effects of climate change on the environment. This program is designed for seamless transfer to bachelor's degree programs in Environmental Science at SUNY four-year colleges and universities, and most credits are transferable to programs in biology, chemistry or environmental science.

A student logs data during a research trip on Glen Lake.

Health Sciences

Gain knowledge of human biology, nutrition and psycho/social human behavior, to build a foundation in sciences related to careers in health care.

Learn about Health Sciences at ��ý

Journeyworker: Construction Management

Couple your knowledge of a technical trade with business and management coursework. This program offers advanced standing in building trades or advanced manufacturing to students who have already completed a journeyworker program or are enrolled in an apprenticeship.

Liberal Arts and Sciences: Health Sciences

Build a strong foundation in science and general education courses to prepare for transfer to bachelor's programs or enter competitive health-related fields.

Learn about Health Sciences at ��ý

Professor Roger Eagen works with a student at an Anatomage table

Mechatronics

Prepare for the manufacturing industry with an education focused on electricity, mechanical systems and robotics.

Learn about Mechatronics at ��ý

closeup image of mechanical parts in an industrial setting

Nursing

Prepare for a fulfilling career helping others.

Learn about Nursing at ��ý

Newly pinned nurses celebrate at the Winter 2024 pinning ceremony.

��ý offers Reconnect info sessions

All News & Stories

Two students work on a project in a networking lab

Community

��ý offers Reconnect info sessions

College staff will answer questions about state-funded degree program

Campus News

��ý prepares for 64th commencement

More than 450 students earn associate degrees and certificates in Class of 2026

Campus News

��ý named Empire State Service Corps college

Ten students will be accepted into community service work program

Campus News

��ý receives $5 million grant

Five-year fund will provide support to students in health care-related fields

Contact us

Jenny Postlethwaite

Director of College Access and ��ý

postlethwaitej@sunyacc.edu

Casey Job

Assistant director of College Access

Jenna Earle

College Access advisor

Lucas McCane

College Access advisor

Sarah Murphy

Adult Learner coordinator

College Access

admission@sunyacc.edu
518-732-2264
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Warren Hall, Suite 107

Financial Aid

finaidoffice@sunyacc.edu
518-743-2223
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
Warren Hall, Room 105