Free college initiatives, which have been part of the national political conversation for years and which some feared might now lose favor in Washington, DC, actually have quietly been inching forward in a variety of forms throughout the country. Like everything at the intersection of education and public policy, this mechanism for supporting new college students has riled up debate and been carefully studied and critiqued, but these programs--typically offering two years of community college for free--are often thriving, advocates say, and have given students a leg up, particularly those who need it most. This article presents the benefits and discusses the eligibility for free college initiatives.