MESA, AZ — A new program that will give free tuition to students in need is coming to the city of Mesa.
It's called the Mesa College Promise Program. The city says high school students who are Mesa residents and can't afford to go to school will be eligible. Mesa Mayor John Giles says students who qualify for federal student aid usually still have some funds left over that they need to pay.
"There is a gap between what federal aid will pay for and what it's going to take to get fully registered," he said.
That's where the city steps in. He says they plan on paying $100,000 a year from the city's general fund. He says a board made up of business and education leaders will also step up.
"They're going to be on the committee that will provide oversight and recruit students," Giles said. "And they'll also bring their checkbooks when they come to those meetings."
Giles says the program is the first of it's kind in the state of Arizona and expected to go into effect a year from now.
