Tuition-free community college is rolling out across campuses in New Jersey in January. On Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy gave an update on his multi-year plan at Union County College in Cranford.

The highlights:

13 community colleges will get a share of $20 million to cover eligible students' tuition and fees

All 19 of New Jersey's community colleges will get $250,000 each for "student outreach, recruitment and support, and to build capacity for future expansion of the program," according to Murphy's office.

After the spring semester, Murphy will assess how to move forward. He said it is too early to tell how the program will take shape, but he is leaning toward adding more funding and expanding the student eligibility.

Offering free community college is one of Murphy's campaign promises toward a broader plan to invest heavily in education to boost the state economy. He had initially budgeted $50 million for the first year of what was expected to be a three-year phase-in, but that figure got cut to $25 million in budget negotiations with fellow Democrats.

"Our goal is to set New Jersey on a new economic trajectory, one that creates good jobs and good pay, which will strengthen our middle class and is based on innovation and forward-leaning companies. These companies will need a skilled workforce, a workforce being built at our county colleges," Murphy said.

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About 13,000 students are expected to take advantage of the tuition program, Murphy said. Eligible students must have a household income below $45,000 and be enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing. The tuition aid will cover any remaining costs not covered by other grants and aid.

"If you’ve got three quarters of the way there, we’re taking you on the last quarter home today," Murphy said.

Whether Murphy can get support in the next budget to increase funding is unclear. Democrats, while generally supportive of increased education funding, are hesitant to raise spending through more taxes.

Republican Sen. Tom Kean Jr. said he'd be willing to work with Murphy on controlling college costs but suggested that his tuition-free plan is deceptive.

“Free community college sounds great, but nothing is free. Governor Murphy’s plan merely shifts the expense of tuition to New Jersey taxpayers at an estimated cost of $200 million to $400 million when the program is fully implemented," he said in a statement.

The 13 colleges receiving state aid for tuition are: Atlantic Cape Community College; Bergen Community College; Camden County College; Cumberland County College; Hudson County Community College; Mercer County Community College; Middlesex County College; Ocean County College; Passaic County Community College; Rowan College at Gloucester County; Salem Community College; Union County College; and Warren County Community College.

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