ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Piedmont Virginia Community College announced it is extending the tuition assistance program.

PVCC4U, a 100 percent Tuition Assistance Program, covers all of the tuition and fees for eligible students. The program launched in May of 2021 and is part of PVCC's goal to make sure money doesn't stand in the way of education.

"We have seen the cost of college increase greatly, and even though community colleges are the lowest cost option people have, it's still not easy for everybody, because remember, many of our students are in their 20s or 30s or 40s and they're raising kids, they have a family, they have jobs, you know. They have to pay their rent, they have to put food on the table, you add the expense of college to that and it's really difficult," said PVCC President Frank Friedman.

In the current fall semester, PVCC covered the full tuition costs of 431 students. This spring semester, it is estimated that will increase to 700 students.

To see if you qualify for this program visit www.pvcc.edu/pvcc4u100.