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+--- Thread: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree (/Thread-TN-makes-CC-free-for-all-adults-w-o-a-degree)
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TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - quigongene - 05-12-2018
http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/11/pf/college/tennessee-free-community-college/index.html
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - MNomadic - 05-12-2018
Wow that's awesomefor those residents! Wish I was in TN right now.
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - xjarhead1999 - 05-12-2018
I didn't read the article but I live in TN. It's a pretty good setup. It can get confusing, but the basics are you must be able to qualify for federal aid. You don't take student loans, you just have to use any and all federal grants you qualify for then the state picks up the rest. There is a list of schools you can use. Some online, some on campus
There are also some 4 year schools you can use but the state won't pay for everything but that gets confusing.
I tried to get in on the deal but had problems due to my fasfa. I was married to a different person in 2015 and have to use that tax return to register. Having a hard time dealing with it so I cannot finish the application.
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - dfrecore - 05-12-2018
In CA, they are playing with free CC (passed a bill, but it hasn't been funded). But, our local CC has a $1M grant (not taxpayer money) to offer free CC to students who graduate from local high schools nearby (55 schools in 14 districts), called the Palomar Promise program. Free tuition, and $350/semester for books. 1 year max, and at least 12cr per semester, so you can't goof around.
San Marcos residents who graduate from one of the San Marcos Unified School district high schools (all 4 years) also qualify for the Palomar Promise+ program, which is the 2nd year free as well (the CC is in SM).
We are paying extra property taxes including a bond paying for Palomar, so I wouldn't say it's technically "free". And, it doesn't apply to other schools, so you ONLY get to go to Palomar. But since I'm paying for it anyway, I'm glad my kid will probably get to use it.
Our local 4-yr state university offers guaranteed admission to those who graduate from these HS's and then graduate/transfer from the CC.
I know another city near Sacramento is doing this as well - all kids who graduate from Rancho Cordova USD HS's can go to the RC satellite campus of American River College (a large CC). They voted it in, and are paying through property taxes as well there.
Overall it's a good deal, and it's nice to have it available. We shall see if other ares follow in our footsteps, and get the whole extra government funding problem out of the way entirely - that would be nice.
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - xjarhead1999 - 05-12-2018
Oh and the TN thing isn't for kids right out of high school. There is another deal that offers that, but the TN reconnect has age/circumstance requirements also.
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - High_Order1 - 05-12-2018
It's *super* confusing.
The grant is a 'last dollar' grant.
Useless to me... they won't let it apply to graduate programs, which I totally understand, but still, I wished this had played out earlier...
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - dfrecore - 05-12-2018
(05-12-2018, 05:56 PM)High_Order1 Wrote: It's *super* confusing.
The grant is a 'last dollar' grant.
Useless to me... they won't let it apply to graduate programs, which I totally understand, but still, I wished this had played out earlier...
The 'last dollar' grants are common. Why would a program give you money to go to school if you could get financial aid for it? Our grants and state funded programs are 'last dollar' as well.
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - xjarhead1999 - 05-12-2018
(05-12-2018, 07:29 PM)dfrecore Wrote:(05-12-2018, 05:56 PM)High_Order1 Wrote: It's *super* confusing.
The grant is a 'last dollar' grant.
Useless to me... they won't let it apply to graduate programs, which I totally understand, but still, I wished this had played out earlier...
The 'last dollar' grants are common. Why would a program give you money to go to school if you could get financial aid for it? Our grants and state funded programs are 'last dollar' as well.
You have to use any federal grants you qualify for. They cover for the cost over those grants. The goal is the ability to get a 2 year degree without cost to you. They don't want you to have to take out loans. You just have to be able to qualify for the loans. I guess their reasoning on that is that if you have done something that disqualified you from school loans then you don't deserve their grant money.
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - cookderosa - 05-14-2018
Last dollar awards via community colleges almost always amount to a whole lotta nothing. Unless your CC program is exceptionally expensive, you'll have to exceed the Pell Grant award before money kicks in. So at about $5600 for a Pell, your CC needs to cost at least $180 per credit before you use all the Pell. Of course, zero tuition is zero tuition - so jump on that.
RE: TN makes CC free for all adults w/o a degree - dfrecore - 05-14-2018
(05-14-2018, 06:48 AM)cookderosa Wrote: Last dollar awards via community colleges almost always amount to a whole lotta nothing. Unless your CC program is exceptionally expensive, you'll have to exceed the Pell Grant award before money kicks in. So at about $5600 for a Pell, your CC needs to cost at least $180 per credit before you use all the Pell. Of course, zero tuition is zero tuition - so jump on that.
Ah, but for those of us who wouldn't qualify for a Pell (or any financial aid whatsoever), the last dollar will be useful, because it will be the only dollar!