NY Offers Free College for Injured Workers Through SUNY/CUNY Reconnect Program

The expanded initiative provides tuition, fees, books, and supplies for eligible adult learners to retrain in high-demand fields.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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New York State is bolstering workforce development and accessibility to higher education through a strengthened collaboration between the Workers' Compensation Board, SUNY, and CUNY. The expanded SUNY/CUNY Reconnect program offers free community college tuition, fees, books, and supplies to eligible adult learners, with a particular focus on assisting injured workers in retraining for new careers.

Why it matters

This initiative reflects New York's commitment to supporting workers impacted by injury and the state's broader strategy to strengthen the workforce by providing educational opportunities in high-demand fields like healthcare, technology, and green energy. The program aims to help injured workers gain new skills and transition to new careers.

The details

The Reconnect program targets New Yorkers aged 25-55 without a prior college degree, providing a pathway to associate degrees. Over 16,500 adult learners have already applied. The Workers' Compensation Board is actively promoting the program by sending mailers and launching a dedicated webpage to raise awareness. Rehabilitation counselors will work directly with injured workers to identify eligibility and connect them with appropriate programs. The initiative also offers support services like resume building, job search assistance, and connections with employers.

  • The SUNY and CUNY Reconnect program was launched following the FY26 Enacted Budget.
  • The Workers' Compensation Board has sent over 5,000 mailers and launched a dedicated webpage (wcb.ny.gov/reconnect) to promote the program.

The players

New York State Workers' Compensation Board

The state agency that oversees the workers' compensation system and is actively promoting the Reconnect program to assist injured workers.

SUNY

The State University of New York, a system of 64 colleges and universities across New York State that provides educational opportunities as part of the Reconnect program.

CUNY

The City University of New York, the nation's largest urban public university system, which offers associate degree programs, many available online, as part of the Reconnect program.

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What’s next

Building on an initial investment of $47 million in the FY26 budget, Governor Hochul is proposing an additional $12.5 million in the FY27 budget to further expand the Reconnect program to target additional high-demand fields like logistics, air traffic control, emergency management, and facilitate the return to school for nurses with prior degrees.

The takeaway

This collaboration between the Workers' Compensation Board, SUNY, and CUNY demonstrates New York's commitment to supporting injured workers and strengthening the state's workforce by providing accessible and affordable educational opportunities in high-demand fields.