YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Eastern Gateway Community College Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to seek a waiver for free college for students in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, and Jefferson Counties.

The EGCC Gateway Guarantee will include last-dollar scholarships to ensure no out-of-pocket costs for the Spring Semester that begins in January.

EGCC will seek the waiver from the Ohio Department of Higher Education to waive tuition and fees for students in the counties listed above.

According to the release, by offering free and reduced tuition and fees, EGCC has offset $163 million and an additional $12 million through the use of Open Educational Resources.

"This is the third semester in a row where we will offer free or reduced costs for our programs, and we will continue to find innovative solutions to challenges such as student debt, college affordability, and the barriers that non-traditional students face when trying to pursue a degree," said Eastern Gateway Community College President Michael Geoghegan.

Eastern Gateway recently announced its largest enrollment for a Fall Semester with a total of 41,843 students on campus and online.