MCC EXPANDS ACCESS TO COLLEGE EDUCATION, OFFERS COLLEGENOW! COURSES AT NO COST DURING 2022 SUMMER QUARTER

MCC EXPANDS ACCESS TO COLLEGE EDUCATION, OFFERS COLLEGENOW! COURSES AT NO COST DURING 2022 SUMMER QUARTER

Every Nebraska high school student qualifies for dual enrollment program with potential to save thousands on cost of completing degree.

For the second consecutive summer, Metropolitan Community College is offering significant savings to Nebraska high school students who want to get a jumpstart on their college education. During the summer quarter, high school students can take college classes for credit at MCC at no cost.

Jordan Pirtle, director of Secondary Partnerships and Gateway to College, said the no-cost offering made a dramatic impact in CollegeNOW! enrollment last summer. CollegeNOW! is an MCC open enrollment program for high school-aged students. More than 1,600 high school students were served by the program last year—the equivalent of a large Class A high school in Omaha.

Pirtle said she anticipates students to continue taking advantage of the opportunity this summer to reduce not only the cost of college but the time it can take to earn a degree after high school.

This summer, high school students residing in Nebraska and graduating 2022 through 2025 qualify to participate in CollegeNOW! at no cost. The program regularly offers college credit at half price. Registration is currently open, with courses starting June 6.

“MCC strives to eliminate barriers to college education whenever possible and is pleased to be able to impact our community by making college credit courses more accessible to Nebraska high school students,” Pirtle said.

Taking CollegeNOW! classes this summer also provides an opportunity for students to get back into an academic rhythm. Two years of interruptions to traditional learning caused by the pandemic has affected student learning and achievement across the country, according to multiple studies.

“Due to the pandemic, many students fell behind. CollegeNOW! offers an opportunity for students to get ahead and overcome challenges they’ve encountered with COVID-19 by pursuing their academic and career goals through dual enrollment and explore fields of study for college,” Pirtle said.

The timing of the summer program is also beneficial for students to build on knowledge learned during the school year, stay academically active and to keep a routine.

“Not all students are involved in athletics or clubs that keep them engaged in the summer and supplement what they learned in the school year. I love that [this program] gives students that opportunity and bridges the gap between the high school and college experience,” Pirtle said.

College credits earned through CollegeNOW! will appear on a student’s MCC transcript, giving them a head start on their associate degree while they continue their high school education. MCC credits may transfer to other colleges or universities, and can potentially save students thousands when they complete high school with college credits in-hand. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost per credit hour of any four-year institution in 2022 is $636, meaning taking one 4.5-hour CollegeNOW! course with MCC this summer could amount to an average savings greater than $1,900 per course in a semester-based academic year.

CollegeNOW! classes are taught by MCC faculty, either on campus or online. More than 1,500 classes are offered during the summer quarter. Concurrent Enrollment Navigators, Success Navigators, Contact Center representatives and other MCC employees are available to help students set appointments, answer questions, assist with the registration process and keep CollegeNOW! students informed about what they need when classes begin.

For full details and to register, visit mccneb.edu/collegenow and complete the free application to obtain an MCC identification number. Once review is complete, participating students will receive an email requesting confirmation with their MCC ID number. After selecting your desired courses, fill out and sign the registration form and email it to centralregistration@mccneb.edu. A confirmation email will be sent once the registration form is processed. Additional assistance is available by calling 531-MCC-4NOW.