Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to sign law providing free college tuition

May 6 (UPI) -- Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will sign a law that gives free tuition to community college students in the state, his spokeswoman said.

The legislation sets aside $15 million per year for scholarships to give students up to $5,000 for community college tuition. To be eligible, students need to have at least a 2.3 high school grade point average, be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours and come from a household that makes less than $100,000 per year for a single parent and $150,000 for two parents.

"Since taking office, the Hogan administration has been committed to increasing access to quality, affordable higher education for Maryland students," Hogan's spokeswoman, Amelia Chasse, said in a statement. "The governor remains committed to helping more students achieve their educational goals and looks forward to signing this bill into law."

An additional $2 million per year over the next five years will be put towards scholarships for older students in need of financial aid who are close to finishing their degrees, The Baltimore Sun reported.

"This investment is going to pay dividends for everyone in our state," Maryland state Sen. William C. Smith Jr., said in April when the legislation was passed. "It's a fantastic start."

Maryland will become the third state to offer free tuition at community colleges, after Tennessee and Oregon.

New York will begin offering free tuition for low and middle-income students at state colleges this fall.