Hayley Anderson
River Valley
Community College
For high school seniors, the start of the academic year means one thing — college applications. With early decision deadlines rapidly approaching, students feel the pressure to compile a list of schools they wish to apply to. The added abundance of options and opinions from families, teachers and peers can cause anxiety and stress. However, this generation of high school graduates is also cautious about their choices and places greater emphasis on financial stability.
Generation Z, typically born between mid-1990s and the early 2010s, has a reputation for being tech-savvy and socially responsible. While still in high school, they are already mindful of their spending habits and seek to avoid incurring college debt, while pursuing a degree that will lead to a promising future.
Generation Z has seen the challenges faced by Millennials, many of whom have been burdened with overwhelming amounts of student debt. Consequently, this cohort is seeking alternative approaches to their education decisions.
One of those options is to attend a local community college. River Valley Community College (RVCC), located in Claremont, Lebanon and Keene, is part of the Community College System of New Hampshire and strives to meet the needs of students in this new wave of education.
With the goal of reducing barriers to high-quality education, RVCC offers free applications to their associate degree and certificate programs. Non-competitive programs automatically accept students, while admissions and advisors are readily available to support those applying to competitive programs throughout every stage of the application process.
To assist with the financial burden, River Valley Community College maintains a low tuition rate. In-state tuition is only $215 per credit for New Hampshire residents, as well as residents of Vermont and Massachusetts who live within a 50-mile radius of the college’s locations. New England regional students are charged $323 per credit, while out-of-state students pay $490 per credit.
Additionally, the Community College System of New Hampshire has introduced the Promise Program, which covers tuition costs for qualified students.
Don’t be fooled. Affordable tuition rates and open enrollment do not compromise the quality of education received at River Valley Community College and other Community College System of New Hampshire schools.
These institutions offer courses that are equitable to those offered by the University System of New Hampshire. This enables students who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree to easily transfer their credits to schools such as UNH, Keene State College and Plymouth State!
Community colleges are making strides in serving the needs of today’s high school graduates and college students. By providing a more accessible and affordable high-quality education, students can graduate and confidently enter the workforce without accumulating burdensome debt. When it comes to higher education, choosing community is a smart choice.
— Hayley Anderson is the Marketing Coordinator for River Valley Community College.
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