Free; Without cost or payment, but many officials don’t know the meaning of; ‘FREE’! They say that college is free in New York. The funds are sent by NY State to the college to pay for your class course, but no funds to buy books etc. After the course is paid, the balance remaining goes to the student. In most cases the funds are not enough to pay for the class course and the student ends up with a bill. So have money to help pay for your college course and to buy your books.