REPORT FINDS COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE KEEPING HIGHER EDUCATION AFFORDABLE

POPLAR BLUFF - America's community colleges are doing a tremendous job of keeping higher education costs affordable while preparing students and workers for the high-skill, high-wage, high-demand jobs of the 21st century, according to reports released by the College Board.

The College Board is a national not-for-profit association that connects students to college success. It produced the reports “Trends in College Pricing 2008” and “Trends in Student Aid 2008” to help families make better educational decisions.

According to the report on College Pricing, community college tuition and fees nationwide rose just 4.7 percent last year. This was considerably less than the 6.4 percent cost increase for in-state students at public four-year institutions and the 5.9 percent increase at private four-year schools.

"Community colleges, such as Three Rivers Community College, are leading the charge in keeping college costs affordable while delivering quality educational opportunities,” said Joe Rozman, President of TRCC. “This is especially important here in Southeast Missouri, where about a quarter of the population lives below the poverty level and the per capita income is almost $9,000 below the state average.”

Starting college at TRCC makes economic sense, Rozman said, since Three Rivers offers the same freshman and sophomore classes as four-year universities at about one-half the cost.

          “It costs about $14,000 more to complete your freshman and sophomore years at a regional university than it does at TRCC when you factor in our lower tuition and fees, our rental book program and the money you will save on housing and transportation costs,” said Cindy Clark, TRCC’s interim Vice President for Student Affairs.

          Because of Three Rivers’ affordable costs, financial aid goes further, Clark said. About 80 percent of TRCC full-time students receive financial aid. In many cases it covers all college costs with some left over for living expenses.

          This is in line with the findings in the College Board’s “Trends in Student Aid 2008” report. The report found that financial aid can significantly lower the net price students actually pay for college.

          At public two-year colleges, the average full-time student receiving financial aid will pay only about $100 out of pocket for the 2008-09 school year. The same student would pay, on average, about $2,900 out of pocket at a four-year public college and about $14,900 at a private four-year institution.

          The Student Aid report also states that financial aid, including both grants and federal loans, increased in 2007-08 by a per-student average of 5.5 percent after adjusting for inflation.

          “A college education is the passport to opportunity and success in today’s economy,” Rozman said. “Three Rivers is putting college within the reach of area residents with our affordable costs, financial aid, convenient classes close to home, and with courses that take students from where they are to where they need to be.”

           For information on enrolling at Three Rivers Community College, call (573) 840-9600 or, toll-free, 1-877-TRY-TRCC or visit the college web site at www.trcc.edu. Early registration for the Spring semester is Nov. 12-26.