F1,

I should have posted a better article. I saw the news story and just posted the AP story. Past ten years or so, NY state has experienced a brain and talent drain...with graduates opting not to live or work in state. One of the provisions of the free tuition at State schools is that graduates have to live in state for 4-5 years after graduation(or pay some kind of penalty,I guess).
Along the lines of the Ameri-corps program the Clintons put in place a few years ago.

I think in the long term, the taxpayer base increases if you can give incentive for graduates to work/live in NY for the first few years.

Students that are really in need of assistance will attend a campus close to parent's home and commute.