Mountain Empire Community College 3441 Mountain Empire Road Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 www.mecc.edu
NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #12 INDIANA, PA
How to beat the rising cost of college Although tuition at Mountain Empire Community College is less than half the cost of a four-year college or university, college costs across the nation continue to increase in response to state budget cuts. But, MECC students have options and opportunities to reduce the cost.* Begin in high school. Students qualifying for Dual Enrollment classes can begin acquiring college credits with an 80 percent reduction in the cost of tuition. Graduating from high school with an AIMS Higher Scholarship provides up to two years of college– tuition free. For MECC’s AIMS Scholars transferring to UVA-Wise, the free tuition continues. Students completing an AAS degree and transferring to a public college or university in Virginia could receive a Transfer Grant of $1,000; this doubles for students majoring in a STEM field of study. Approximately 80 percent of MECC’s students enrolled in programs of study receive Financial Aid and/or Scholarships. Currently, additional assistance is being made available to provide training for unemployed, underemployed, dislocated workers to acquire new or upgraded skills in both credit and non-credit classes. Check out the On-Ramp program (see page 2 of this schedule) that has already assisted more than 150 students with financial assistance. The PluggedInVA programs also provide financial assistance; a new cohort of students will begin in Dickenson County this fall (see page 59). Unlike many colleges, MECC does not include loans as part of its financial package. MECC can be Your Place to Begin – debt free. *All types of financial assistance have eligibility requirements.
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