If you’re an adult looking to expand your learning opportunities, but cost has been a barrier, Mesa Community College may have just what you need, and your classes just got more within reach. MCC has expanded its Mesa College Promise program to people 24 years of age and older and the tuition is completely free for people who meet a few criteria.
Mesa College Promise, kick started by Mesa Mayor John Giles as a public private partnership between MCC and various corporate entities, eliminates the No. 1 barrier to adult higher education – cost.
“The Mesa College Promise plays a vital role in connecting Mesa residents with pathways to higher education and better job prospects, and the expansion of the Promise to adult learners multiplies its potential,” Mayor Giles said about expanding the program. “The business community understands the value of postsecondary education and through their integral support of the program, they are helping to build the workforce of tomorrow. I could not be happier that more Mesa residents will have the opportunity to pursue higher education.”
Students must demonstrate a financial need by completing the FAFSA financial aid application, have earned a high school diploma or GED, not yet have attained a degree, and enroll in at least six credits to be eligible for the Promise program.
More than 70 percent of the students participating in the Mesa College Promise program are the first in their families to attend college.
Mesa College Promise supports the Achieve60AZ statewide attainment goal that at least 60 percent of all Arizona adults have a high-value workforce certification or college degree by 2030. A survey conducted by Education Forward Arizona shows that 86 percent of the state’s residents support that goal.
“The Mesa College Promise, aimed at adults, embodies our collective commitment to the Achieve60AZ goal. By offering accessible pathways to higher education, programs like the Mesa College Promise play a pivotal role in allowing us to achieve this much-needed goal,” said Education Forward Arizona CEO, Rich Nickel. “By providing comprehensive support for Mesa residents to pursue postsecondary education, we not only remove barriers to achievement but also pave the way for a more educated, skilled, and competitive workforce!”
Businesses, corporate interests, and individuals have donated $760,000 to the Mesa College Promise program, and Google has kicked in an additional $100,000 to expand the program, helping cover the newly eligible adult learners.
“Google’s sponsorship is not just a financial investment; it’s an integral part of our commitment to this community and to breaking down entrenched financial barriers that have historically impeded students from pursuing higher education,” said Dr. Kate Franko, Google’s regional head of data center public affairs for Arizona. “Mesa College Promise is a shining example of what can be achieved through collaborative efforts between the local government, educational institutions, and corporate partners.”
In addition to the cost of tuition, students receive a $250 stipend to use toward the cost of books, transportation, and other education-related expenses. MCC also loans the students an iPad for the first two years of the Promise program.
Students are also assigned an individual advisor to not only help them choose classes, but tutor them, and offer individual academic and personal support. Students also have access to boot camps, workshops and counseling, and volunteer and internship opportunities.
Mesa College Promise welcomed its first group of 88 students in 2021 and the numbers have grown steadily; 201 participated in 2022 and an additional 200 took part last year.
MCC offers adults wanting to further their education additional opportunities through its New Frontiers for Lifelong Learning program, too. New Frontiers is for the curious and for people interested in learning for the love of doing so.
The program offers non-credit classes in everything from travel and leisure to history and politics, and from finances to real estate classes to understanding a day in the life of a firefighter. New Frontiers even offers tours of the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center, and the storied B-17 Sentimental Journey based at Falcon Field. There is an annual fee of $80 to enroll in the New Frontiers program.