The Board elected to take the current tuition rate from $69 to $49 per credit hour beginning in the 2018-19 academic year.
“Northeast Community College is the best value in education in the state of Nebraska,” said Jeff Scherer, At-Large board member from Beemer, prior to the board’s action.
The new early college rate is approximately half of the regular tuition rate at Northeast and is amongst the lowest at Nebraska colleges and universities.
Makala Williams, director of early college at Northeast, said the College offers many different subjects as dual credit classes, including academic transfer, as well as career and technical education courses.
“Many area schools have faculty on board who have acquired the academic credentials to teach at the college level as well. This gives high school students the wonderful opportunity to earn high school and college credit simultaneously. Students may contact their guidance counselors to see what courses Northeast offers at their respective schools.”
Dual credit courses are customarily taken in area high schools, taught by faculty who meet Northeast’s specific qualifications. In addition, classes may be taken online, at Northeast’s three extended campuses, and through “Fridays@Northeast.” The relatively new Fridays program allows high school seniors to spend the final day of the school week on a college campus in career and technical education classrooms and labs that meet college program requirements.
“The grades and credits students can earn through our early college program may be used towards a degree at Northeast or transferred to another college,” Williams said. “It also allows students to become familiar with the college environment before their first day of college as freshmen.”
Chipps commended the board for its decision to reduce the early college tuition rate.
“This aligns perfectly with Northeast’s Vision 2020 strategic plan to increase student access to education. The board is investing in the future of rural communities from across the 20-county region by creating additional opportunities for high school students to transition into college. Once these seniors enroll in these courses, they are considered and treated as college students.”
To learn more about early college at Northeast Community College, go online to https://northeast.edu/Admissions/Early-College or contact Williams at (402) 844-7118 or makalaw@northeast.edu.
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