Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Friday that mandatory fees for graduate students working at SUNY state-funded schools have been eliminated.

The fees previously cost an average of $2,000 per year. Hochul’s office says it was phased out with the support of continued investment in SUNY operations and the legislature through enacted state budgets since 2023/2024.

The elimination effort took four years to complete, according to officials. More than 7,500 student graduate workers will be impacted.

Hochul says the change will help lessen the financial burden for those seeking masters and doctoral degrees.

“SUNY provides academic excellence, and through my administration, we are looking at every possibility to make higher education more affordable,” Hochul said. “Our graduate student workers serve as teachers, researchers and other critical functions on our campuses while pursuing their degrees, and, with this step forward, we are supporting them in continuing to play these vital roles.”