College Free Tuition: Hillary Clinton Joins Gov. Cuomo For Signing Ceremony

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — Governor Cuomo signed a legislation Wednesday that will provide free college education to New York's public university students whose families earn less than $125,000 per year, which he said will hopefully set a precedent for the nation's other states.

The legislation for the Excelsior Scholarship was passed as part of the state's 2018 budget and is set to take effect in the fall of 2017, according to a press release from the governor's office. The budget will provide a record amount of $7.5 billion for higher education and include an additional $8 million to alleviate the cost of textbooks.

The program will be phased in over a period of three years, beginning with students whose families make less than $100,000 in fall 2017, the governor's office said. The cap for eligibility will be raised to $110,000 in 2018 and to $125,000 in 2019.

Recipients of the scholarship will have to enroll in 30 credits per year but will be allowed the flexibility to take fewer credits in one semester than another. They must also maintain a GPA necessary for the successful completion of their program.

There is, of course, a slight catch: Students will have to work in-state after graduation for the same amount of years they receive the scholarship.

More than 75 percent of New York families with college-aged children will be eligible for the scholarship, the governor's office said in a statement.

Joining the governor during Wednesday's ceremony at LaGuardia Community College was Hillary Clinton.

"New York State has long been a pioneer in education. Taking this next step to make college tuition-free for hardworking families is the right thing to do, and the smart thing to do," she said.

"I was proud to put this plan forward during my campaign, and I'm thrilled that it's become a reality in New York. I hope students, families, and educators across our country will continue to speak out on this issue, and call on more states to follow suit."

Watch the speeches by Clinton and Cuomo below.

Images courtesy of Governor Cuomo's office