SOUTH HOLLAND | When an Amazon.com warehouse in Munster closed and the entire staff was laid off, Amanda Gutter knew it was time to go back to school.

Without a steady income, Gutter started looking at colleges, but where could she get an education for really cheap, or even free in these belt-tightening, penny-pinching times?

The Rebound Program at South Suburban College offers free tuition for those who qualify.

The 21-year-old Lansing resident lost her job at the warehouse in April, but is taking classes for free at South Suburban College as a part of the new program.

"I'm glad the program is there to help me," Gutter said. "It's good for other people in the community who got laid off."

This summer, the first 40 students enrolled in the program for classes ranging from graphic design to entrepreneurship can earn a certificate or an associate's degree for free.

Monetarily speaking, there isn't a catch, but students must live in District 510, have lost their jobs after Jan. 1, 2008, for reasons unrelated to job performance and remain unemployed.

"The board of trustees was looking for way to help people who have been laid off in the community," South Suburban spokesman Pat Rush said.

Rush said South Suburban used Oakton Community College's program as a template.

The program, approved by the board in March, already has more than 100 people whose paperwork is completed and will register for fall classes July 20, which is the first day of registration.

"We are expecting a huge number of students interested in the program," he said. People can take courses which are not filled up by tuition-paying students, Rush said.

An unintended consequence of offering free education is that people become very interested in taking classes and realize they already qualify for financial aid, Rush said.

"The nice thing about the program is it attracted students who may not have come but then realize they can get full financial aid," he said.

For 26 years, Joseph Ramirez, of Calumet City, has worked various jobs before he was laid off in December. He is taking a look at the Rebound Program.

"While I am searching for jobs on Monster.com or Career Builder, a bunch of colleges call me and ask if I am interested in going back to school," he said. "But, of course, when you go in there, it is going to cost an arm and a leg, but at South Suburban College you don't have that problem."