by Jessica Dickler and Kevin Breuninger

Think “free” tuition sounds unrealistic? It’s already a reality in more than 20 states.

Earlier this year, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana and Rhode Island introduced statewide free community-college programs. Other states, including Minnesota, Oregon and Tennessee, already have programs, and 13 more introduced legislation this year to start similar initiatives, according to Dustin Weeden, a senior policy specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures.