(Photo By Flickr User stannate)

A coeducational private liberal arts college in Southern Illinois, is offering free tuition to area families earning less than $60,000 a year.

The Associated Press & wgem.com report that Blackburn College which is located in Carlinville, IL, is making the offer to lower income students from Macoupin County.

Students will have to meet the regular admission requirements and apply for financial aid.

President Dr. John Comerford says the program will allow students to go to school locally, which could boost local employment and communities.

Blackburn College was founded in 1837 and has around 600+ students attending the four-year college.