×

NCCC returns $1.2 million in county financial support

Bridge Program, Franklin-Essex Scholarship provide savings to students

SARANAC LAKE – North Country Community College returned nearly half of the financial support it received from Essex and Franklin counties to residents of the two counties through tuition savings and scholarships during the 2017-18 academic year.

“The college has been proud to make residents of Franklin and Essex counties our top priority,” said NCCC President Steve Tyrell. “With a large majority of our students coming from our sponsoring counties, the college is committed to giving them a great and affordable educational experience.”

Savings

A total of 767 high school students from 18 high schools in Essex and Franklin counties participated in NCCC’s Bridge Program during the 2017-18 school year, earning college credit at discounted tuition rates that saved them a total of $1,027,856.

Another 72 residents of the college’s two sponsoring counties received free tuition to attend NCCC through the Franklin and Essex Scholarship. This amounted to $167,426 in savings for these students.

The scholarships and Bridge program savings together total $1,195,282. That’s 48 percent of the combined $2,480,000 Essex and Franklin counties provided in operating support to the college in 2017-18.

College Bridge Program

Through the College Bridge Program, high school juniors and seniors can satisfy their high school graduation requirements while earning college credit for just $60 per course. Students can earn up to 30 credit hours in their junior and senior years that can be transferred to many colleges, including NCCC.

In 2017-18, the 767 high school students who took Bridge classes earned a combined 5,876 college credits. The normal tuition for that course load would have been $1,151,696, but these students paid a total of just $123,840 — a savings of $1,027,856.

Fifty students at Chateaugay High School in Franklin County took advantage of NCCC’s Bridge Program last year.

“Our kids and their parents love the Bridge Program,” said school Principal Lori Tourville. “They know the financial benefit of getting college credit here in their home district. It gives them a big leg up, leaving high school and having so many credits. They also get to take credits with instructors they already have a relationship with, so there’s a comfort level to it.”

“The other thing is, there may be a kid who thinks college might not be for them, but if they can take college-level courses here before graduation, they may realize, ‘Hey, I can do this.'”

Franklin-Essex Scholarship

The Franklin and Essex Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors in the two counties who have an average GPA of 85 or above and receive an Advanced Regents Diploma. It covers their tuition cost for the academic year.

Fifty-eight Franklin County students saved a total of $136,068 through the scholarship last year, while another 14 Essex County students saved a combined $31,358.

“To have the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree without paying tuition is a great bargain for our residents,” said Chris Tacea, NCCC’s Dean of Admissions. “There is still time for high school graduates to sign up for classes this fall and take advantage of this great NCCC scholarship program.”

“North Country Community College’s focused commitment to Essex and Franklin county residents through these two programs is a big part of our overall student enrollment and reaffirms our belief that the earlier we expose high school students to a college experience, the more likely they will not only pursue a college degree later, the more likely they will also complete the degree,” said Bob Farmer, North Country’s vice president for administration. “What better way to do so and keep our residents in our backyard than by taking advantage of one of these great programs.”

For more information on the College Bridge Program or the Franklin and Essex Scholarship, call 888-TRY-NCCC.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today