ccsnh – 91łÔąĎÍř 91łÔąĎÍř Wed, 12 Jul 2023 17:33:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2019/11/cropped-wmcc-logo-2-32x32.png ccsnh – 91łÔąĎÍř 32 32 Community College System of New Hampshire Announces New Promise Program to Provide Need-Based Gap Funding to Eligible NH Students /promise-program/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 17:24:57 +0000 /?p=18785

Combined with federal grants, new program promises to cover tuition and required comprehensive fees for the next year for eligible students

Manchester, N.H. (July 12, 2023) – The Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) will be offering a significant, new need-based funding program for the 2023-24 academic year. CCSNH’s Promise Program will help New Hampshire students who qualify based on financial need by bridging the gap between grants, scholarships, and the cost of tuition and required comprehensive fees, at all seven of New Hampshire’s community colleges. The program was announced by system leadership on July 12 at Manchester Community College, with students, guests and college personnel in attendance. ĚýĚý

Funding for the Promise Program was included in the biennial budget passed by the New Hampshire Legislature and signed into law by Governor Sununu. The Promise Program is need-based financial assistance for New Hampshire students enrolled in courses that are part of an academic degree or certificate program. Potential recipients of the Promise Program need to complete the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be Pell-eligible, and enroll in at least six credits per semester. CCSNH will apply any scholarships and grants first and the gap that remains may be covered through the Promise Program.

“Some people say that New Hampshire faces a challenging future, owing to slow growth and an aging population, but that also means that New Hampshire’s future is filled with opportunities for people who are prepared to pursue them,” said Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH Chancellor. “With the state’s new investment in our work, and really more, with the state’s investment in the promise and the potential of the residents of the Granite State, we can now help more students who want to learn and contribute to New Hampshire’s future, by strengthening the workforce that supports a thriving economy, that supports innovation, and that meets the needs of the people of this state. That is the purpose behind the Promise Program.”

This new program comes just two weeks after CCSNH announced a tuition freeze for the 2023-2024 school year as part of its continued commitment to provide a high-quality education that is affordable for New Hampshire students and families. Ninety-three percent of students at CCSNH are in-state residents, and the vast majority remain in New Hampshire after graduating, joining the local workforce, or continuing their education through one of the transfer pathways between NH’s community colleges and bachelor’s degree-granting institutions.ĚýĚý

CCSNH is dedicated to the educational, professional, and personal success of its students; a skilled workforce for the state’s businesses; and a strong New Hampshire economy.

For more information on the Promise Program, visit ChooseCommunity.Com/Promise.

About CCSNH
New Hampshire’s seven community colleges, located across the state to serve every NH community and region, enroll more than 20,000 students annually including 8,000 high school students who take courses for dual high school and college credit at a reduced cost. Thanks to state support, CCSNH is also able to broaden the number of courses that high schoolers can take at no cost, getting a head start on college requirements and saving from the eventual costs of a college degree. CCSNH also offers short-term, customized career training that prepares individuals for in-demand jobs and helps New Hampshire employees meet their hiring needs.Ěý CCSNH works to align its programming with the needs of the state, helping thousands of students enter careers or begin their education before transferring to a four-year college or university. CCSNH has long been the largest transfer partner of the state’s university system and has relationships with numerous other transfer destinations for students.

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CCSNH Promise Program FAQs


Who is eligible?

The Promise Program is need-based financial assistance for New Hampshire students enrolled in courses that are part of an academic degree or certificate program at one of seven community colleges. If you are eligible for a Pell grant of any amount, you may qualify.Ěý

You will know if you are Pell-eligible once you have submitted the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (), a form completed by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. [open link in new window]

Full and part-time students are eligible. To receive Promise Program funds, you must enroll for at least 6 credits per semester.

How do I apply for funding?

You must complete the FAFSA and all federal requirements, if any. If you need help with the FAFSA process, contact your college’s Financial Aid Office. There is no separate application for Promise Program funds.

How much funding can I receive?

If you receive any amount of Pell funding, the Promise Program can cover the gap between your grants and the full amount of tuition and required comprehensive fees. If you receive other grants in addition to Pell such as Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Unique Scholarship, Governor’s Scholarship, or private tuition scholarships, we will apply those first; and then any gap that remains may be covered through the Promise Program.ĚýĚý

I was only planning to attend part-time.Ěý Can I change my plans to add more courses and pay for them with Promise Program funding?

Yes. If you are eligible for Promise Program funds, you may add courses; the program will cover full-time enrollment for eligible students.Ěý

I already applied and registered for classes for the Fall 2023 semester. Am I still eligible for the Promise Program?Ěý

Yes. If you have completed the FAFSA and all federal requirements, you will be notified by the Financial Aid Office.

What about specialized program fees?

Some programs do have specific fees that cover specialized materials, tools, and equipment (for example, welding, auto, nursing, dental and some others). Those additional fees are not presently covered by the Promise Program, but you can review your financial aid offer for other potential sources of aid.ĚýĚýĚýĚýĚýĚý

Can I connect with someone to learn more about the Promise Program?Ěý

Yes. Please select contact information for the college you are attending or wish to attend (eligibility is the same at all NH community colleges).

Great Bay Community College

gbfinaid@ccsnh.edu
Lakes Region Community
College		 lrccfinancialaid@ccsnh.edu
Manchester Community
College		 mcc-fa@ccsnh.edu
Nashua Community College nashua_financial_aid@ccsnh.edu
NHTI – Concord’s Community College nhtifinaid@ccsnh.edu
River Valley Community College rvccfinaid@ccsnh.edu
91łÔąĎÍř wmccfinancialaid@ccsnh.edu

Where is the funding coming from?

The Promise Program was included in the biennial budget passed by the New Hampshire Legislature and signed into law by Governor Sununu. This is the first time a program like this has been funded at New Hampshire’s community colleges. This is currently a one-time investment by the State, and the program will only be continued in future years if additional funds are appropriated.

How do I apply for admission?

Information on programs and how to apply can be found here

Is there anything else I should know?

At New Hampshire’s community colleges, we want to help you set educational goals and achieve them.Ěý Whether it’s this Promise Program or other sources of aid we identify, talk to us and let us find a way to help. Every year, thousands of students achieve their goals at New Hampshire’s community colleges. You can, too.

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]]> New Hampshire Community Colleges Announce 2023-24 Tuition Freeze /ccsnh-announce-2023-24-tuition-freeze/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:18:34 +0000 /?p=18771

5th consective year with no increase

Concord, NH (June 27, 2023) – For the 5th straight year, the (CCSNH) is freezing its tuition rate as part of its continued commitment to provide a high-quality education that is affordable for New Hampshire students and families. The freeze was unanimously approved by the Finance Committee of the CCSNH Board of Trustees, preceding a vote by the full board later this summer.

In-state tuition will remain at $215 per credit, which equates to $6,450 for the school year for a full-time course load. Ninety-three percent of students at CCSNH are state residents, and the vast majority remain in New Hampshire after graduating, joining the local workforce or continuing their education through one of the many transfer pathways between the seven community colleges and bachelor’s degree-granting institutions.Ěý Ěý

The tuition freeze announcement came as Governor Sununu signed into law the state budget passed in June by the NH Legislature, which includes funds CCSNH had sought to make the tuition freeze possible. Both the Governor, as well as the House and Senate supported the budget request. Ěý

“The historic bipartisan budget I signed into law unlocks unprecedented opportunity for students, families, businesses, and communities across the Granite State,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “Our community college system plays a central role in equipping the next generation of New Hampshire’s workforce with the skills needed to build a thriving economy that keeps the Granite State moving in the right direction. I applaud the Community College System trustees for making smart, targeted investments to prioritize affordable access to a top-quality education for our students.”

The last time CCSNH raised tuition was 2018, with a $5/credit increase. This was the only increase in well over a decade as tuition across CCSNH’s seven colleges has increased only 2.4% in total since 2011.ĚýĚý

“We provide our students with high-quality programs that serve them and serve New Hampshire well,” said CCSNH Chancellor Mark Rubinstein. “Our ability to make those programs affordable for students and families—programs in nursing and other healthcare fields, in advanced manufacturing, automotive technology, HVAC, and welding, as well as transfer programs in areas like business and liberal arts—is only possible because of the investments that the State makes in our work. Keeping tuition frozen and virtually flat for more than a decade is one outcome of this vital partnership.”

Rubinstein also highlighted funding in the approved budget to expand access to courses that high school students can take for college credit, through early college programs in their high school, on the college campuses and online. “With this increased level of support, we can amplify the impact with greater affordability for New Hampshire students and their families, helping them to avoid, or at least minimize, college debt as they prepare for the good jobs that this state has to offer,” Rubinstein said.

In addition to the tuition freeze and expansion of early college opportunities, CCSNH is in the final stages of creating a new “Promise Program,” which will provide gap funding for eligible students with financial need. Details of the program will be announced later this summer.Ěý

“I’ve been able to put money into savings for the first time in my life due to the low tuition at MCC,” said David Olsen, Manchester Community College Liberal Arts student from Goffstown. “±ő’m glad tuition rates are frozen, and college will continue to be affordable. I’ve also had to spend very little money on textbooks at MCC thanks to the low-cost or no-cost textbooks many of my classes have used, which has been very helpful.”

New Hampshire’s seven community colleges, located across the state to serve every NH community and region, enroll more than 20,000 students annually including 8,000 high school students who take courses for dual high school and college credit at a reduced cost. Thanks to state support, CCSNH is also able to broaden the number of courses that high schoolers can take at no cost, getting a head start on college requirements and saving from the eventual costs of a college degree. CCSNH also offers short-term, customized career training that prepares individuals for in-demand jobs and helps New Hampshire employees meet their hiring needs.Ěý CCSNH works to align its programming with the needs of the state, helping thousands of students enter careers or begin their education before transferring to a four-year college or university. CCSNH has long been the largest transfer partner of the state’s university system and has relationships with numerous other transfer destinations for students.

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