SUNY ReConnect

Free Community College for Adult Learners at SUNY Erie

It doesn't get any better than free!

The SUNY Reconnect program provides free associate degrees in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, nursing and health professions, teaching & more for New York State residents ages 25 to 55 with no college degree. While you are waiting for our team to contact you, please begin the application process by signing up for workday.

two nurses

Who is eligible?

New Yorkers 25-55 years old without a college degree who enroll in an eligible, full-time or part-time associate degree program. See SUNY's FAQ for details.

What costs are covered?

The SUNY Reconnect program covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, & supplies after all other financial aid is applied.


High-demand fields that'll boost your earning power!

higabi woman using a grinder on a machine

Learn in-demand skills for work in fields including:

  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Engineering
  • Green and renewable energy
  • Nursing and allied health fields
  • Pathways to teaching in shortage areas
  • Technology

For More Information:
Call: (716) 270-2974
Email: enrollmentmanagement@ecc.edu 

Nursing and Allied Health Fields

This program provides students with necessary knowledge to pursue graduate studies in health-related fields or gain direct entry to a limited number of health promotion careers.
This program prepares students for careers as substance abuse counselors and provides ongoing training for individuals already employed in the field.
This program combines nursing and general education courses with selected laboratory experiences, during which students provide nursing care to clients in hospitals and other health care facilities. Courses cover medical/surgical, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatric nursing and utilizes current technologies. Nursing specific classes are complemented with studies in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, psychology, sociology, English composition, and literature.
Program graduates are directly responsible for the actual daily treatment of patients with the use of sophisticated radiation-producing equipment. They also are responsible for delivering ionizing radiation (X-rays, gamma rays, electrons and protons) according to the treatment plan as prescribed by the radiation oncologist.
This program's curriculum encompasses a concentration of medical laboratory courses, along with courses in the liberal arts, social science, sciences, and mathematics, and students complete laboratory rotations at affiliated clinical sites. Graduates are employed as clinical laboratory technicians in private, clinical, or hospital laboratories and research institutions. They may also transfer to four-year institutions or universities to pursue a BS degree in clinical laboratory science, as well as other medical fields such as nursing, pre-medicine, and physician assistant.
This program prepares graduates to become licensed health care professionals dedicated to the maintenance of optimal oral health and the prevention of oral disease. These professional goals are accomplished through community oral health education, through delivery of preventive dental health services to individuals and through highly skilled patient treatment.
This program prepares competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Through a series of specialized courses, laboratory work and practical field experience, students acquire the competencies and standards of proficiency which are required for certification by the American Association of Medical Assistants. The program also provides a broad base of information which allows graduates to successfully continue their education in a related medical field.
This program prepares entry-level occupational therapy assistants for work in community and institutional health care programs, providing direct and consultative occupational therapy services to individuals, groups, communities, and populations. Students receive instruction in theory and develop practical skills relating to occupational therapy through classroom, laboratory, and fieldwork settings. Through second year course work, students participate in fieldwork practice settings.
The program trains students to become respiratory therapists who, under medical direction, work in the treatment, management, diagnostic evaluation and overall care, and education of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. The curriculum provides broad knowledge to academically prepare students to enter the profession. Graduates secure employment in hospitals, and other acute care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, physician offices, laboratories, and home care.
This program offers classroom, clinical and laboratory training, that utilizes state of the art instrumentation, for careers in the vision care field. To complement classroom and laboratory training, students participate in two clinical externships at optometric and ophthalmological private practices and vision centers. Graduates participate in credentialing exams administered by the American Board of Opticianry and the National Contact Lens Examiners, as well as state licensure exams through the Office of Professions, New York State Education Department.
This program is designed for both the career and volunteer provider. It requires students to complete the SUNY general education courses and ensures that students complete core development courses in math, English, science, humanities, social science, EMT and other fields to be better rounded students and lifelong learners. Successful completion of the program results in an Associate of Applied Science Paramedic Degree.

Engineering

This program prepares students to either assume positions in the early childhood community immediately upon graduation or to continue their formal education at a four-year institution. Coursework includes a series of education courses each paired with a field experience (lab) course, culminating in a six-credit field placement and seminar capstone course in the final semester. The liberal arts and science courses taken depend on the individual student's educational and professional goals.


This AAS degree provides students with basic training in the concepts fundamental to the development, design and construction of commercial, industrial, and public structures, utilities, and highways. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required for graduation.
This program provides the coursework for the first two years of a four-year degree in computer science. It prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions as third-year students in a computer science program. Courses focus on communicating, designing logical programs, working as a member of a project team, and understanding potential areas of application.
Objectives for this program are to secure employment in a technical career related to construction management and continue education to a four-year construction management-related program. Students receive a sound education in both the theory and the application of quality construction principles for a variety of construction projects. They also learn the basic methods, materials, techniques, and developments involved in the construction industry.
This program prepares students for entry-level skills as technicians in the fields of electronics, computers, communications, instrumentation, automation, and power. It also provides the basis for transferring to a four-year engineering technology program. Students receive a solid foundation in electrical and electronics theory and hands-on laboratory experience. Computer simulation and applications are an integral part of the curriculum.
This program is designed to qualify students for transfer to a four-year engineering program. Classes at the North Campus are small, and, in this intimate setting, learning is greatly enhanced. The curriculum includes courses in English, social science, advanced mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Students also take prescribed engineering courses designed to facilitate transfer to baccalaureate engineering programs.
This program provides students with the knowledge and technical experience needed to transfer to a four-year degree program in environmental science, environmental biology, or environmental studies. Through laboratory-oriented, multi-disciplinary coursework, students gain a broad and integrated knowledge base of the basic sciences, as well as knowledge of issues focusing on environmental integrity, sustainable resources, and ecological problems.
This program provides training for CNC Machining and Programming and General/ Custom Technology Degrees - Quality/ Manufacturing.
This program offers an in-depth study of mechanical engineering technology courses, as well as liberal arts and social science courses. Analytical mechanics, strength of materials, fluid mechanics and electricity for mechanical equipment are among the subjects covered in the curriculum. Graduates either assume positions as mechanical technicians or continue their education toward a bachelor or advanced degree in engineering or technology.
This program educates students in the methods of technical design as applied to the building process. Its curriculum includes teaching techniques, graphic representation, work force skills, computer-aided drafting (CAD), and Building Information Management (BIM) via enhanced software applications. Graduates are prepared to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate buildings to produce effective technical design solutions and assume integral positions within architectural firms.
This AOS degree is a cooperative program where half of student learning is delivered through coursework at SUNY Erie and the other half from work-based learning experiences at partnering automotive repair facilities. It provides students with the necessary knowledge and experience to be a successful automotive service technician and affords them practical opportunities to sharpen their skills and abilities. Graduates are employed as technicians, lead technicians, assistant foremen, shop foremen, parts managers, service managers, or salespersons.
This program prepares graduates for the challenges of the auto industry. The curriculum provides both theoretical and practical knowledge as students learn about electrical systems, transmissions, trans-axles, engine performance, fuel and emissions, alignment and suspension, air conditioning and heating, as well as mastering computer-assisted mechanisms, and New York State inspection requirements.
This AOS degree program qualifies graduates for employment as collision technicians, painters, damage estimators, shop managers, detailers, and paint/body repair product manufacturers. Students acquire these skills through a combination of coursework completed in lectures, coupled with hands-on experience in labs at SUNY Erie or through internship opportunities at local automotive collision facilities.
This AAS degree provides students with the skills needed to succeed in today's digital world. For the first year of study, students acquire a broad business and real-world perspective of information technology. In the second year, students choose one of five areas in which to specialize: cybersecurity, management information systems, networking, Oracle Academy Database, and programming. Graduates secure employment in technical support, programming, and other computer-related fields or continue their computer education at four-year institutions.

Pathways to Teaching in Shortage Areas

This AA degree provides a solid foundation of required coursework for seamless transfer to BS education programs. Curriculum areas include SUNY general education courses, subject area concentration courses, introductory education courses, and other required core courses related to the childhood education curriculum. The program provides early and direct access to teacher practitioners as students complete the clinical field observation experiences in specific pedagogical courses.