Going back to school can be intimidating and expensive.

"Dealing with things like homework and work-work and that was a little difficult at first," said Kimberly Pierce who recently decided to go back to school to get her degree in web design at Pellissippi State Community College.

"I've wanted to come back for a long time, but the main thing was money was a big factor," said Pierce.

The average cost of community college is just under 4,000 dollars a year in Tennessee which may not sound like a lot, but let's say you're making minimum wage, that's nearly a fourth of your salary.

For people like Pierce that wasn't an option, until recently when she became eligible for Tennessee Reconnect. It gives free tuition to any adult with at least 30 credit hours.

"It wasn't a matter deciding one day it was a matter of I got the funding to come back."

Governor Bill Haslam announced Monday he wants to extend that to any adult who doesn't already have a degree.

"It's wonderful and it'll keep people out of debt," said Leigh Anne Touzeau, Assistant VP of Enrollment Services at Pellissippi State Community College.

"Our faculty love adult students. Adult students are very mature they do really great work."

The community college has students ranging in age from 16 all the way to 80.

"If you're 40, you've maybe been in an dead end job for a while, come back spend two years maybe less if we have an accelerated program and then get this wonderful position that can lead to a lifelong career that is very fulfilling," said Touzeau.

"I can get my associates degree and I can get it and do something for a living and that I enjoy," said Pierce.

The Tennessee Reconnect Act establishes a last-dollar scholarship for adults to attend a community college tuition-free. With this extension of the Drive to 55, which comes at no additional cost to taxpayers, every Tennessean will have the opportunity to enter or reenter public higher education with no tuition expenses."

Haslam went on to say that the state requires 871,000 degrees in order to reach the Drive to 55 goal; however, only 645,000 high school graduates are expected to graduate between 2014 and 2022.

The program looks to provide "an immediate payoff for Tennessee's workforce and an investment in the state's economy that will provide dividends for decades to come."

The program requires that to be eligible, students must not already have an associate or bachelor degree; must have been a Tennessee resident for at least one year prior to the date of application; must complete the FAFSA and be deemed an independent student; must be admitted to an eligible institution beginning with the 2018-19 year and enroll in a degree or certificate program at least part time (6 semester hours); and must participate in an advising program approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Students must also enroll in classes leading to an associate's degree or certificate, maintain continuous enrollment and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Haslam said the program will be funded through the lottery for education account and will cost approximately $10 million once fully implemented.