The University of New England will begin covering tuition costs for high-achieving students whose families earn less than $100,000 in an effort to attract top talent.

UNE says it will provide free tuition to high-performing high school graduating students from all states across the country starting next fall.

Students must meet a qualifying high school GPA requirement. They must also be enrolled at UNE full-time, live on campus for all four years, and demonstrate high financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during each year of their undergraduate degree program.

UNE currently provides financial aid to 98 percent of its students. The school says 30% of undergraduates it admits every year are the first in their family to attend college.

University President James Herbert said its decision comes as Maine and New England need to boost the workforce for jobs in business, bioscience, and life sciences industries and as the region continues to face workforce shortages in the health care and hospitality sectors.

“UNE is committed to attracting high-achieving students from across the country to New England, and to Maine in particular, and to guaranteeing that they are poised for success in the workforce when they graduate,” said Herbert said. “By removing financial barriers to a quality UNE education, we hope to bolster the workforce pipeline in this region and ensure the long-term vitality of Maine and New England’s new economy.”

The University of New England claims to be Maine’s No. 1 provider of health care professionals and the No. 1 college or university in the state for job placement following graduation.