Community College of Philadelphia Springs For Tuition-Free Teaching

If you are a senior at a Philadelphia city high school this year, listen up – Community College of Philadelphia may be offering you a free ride through school. The college is going tuition-free for all low-income incoming freshmen who meet certain income requirements and admissions standards.

Students will be required to maintain a minimum GPA to stay enrolled in the program.

The program is called “50th Anniversary Scholars,” in honor of the college’s half-century anniversary. College president Donald “Guy” Generals stated that the program is intended to assist high school graduates that still can’t meet the cost of college tuition, even with federal grants. Students eligible for the free tuition would have to qualify for Pell grants and meet other criteria, which include American citizenship and being able to write at a college level. Students from public, private, and charter schools are all eligible.

It is estimated that 440 students will qualify for free tuition in the first year, and that by Year 3 that will have risen to 845. Tuition and fees at the Community College of Philadelphia run to about $5,500 per year. It is believed that the program will not only help students, but will increase the college’s enrollment as well. The college’s fundraising arm will pay for the program by way of future endowments. The initial goal is $10 million, with a future goal of $40 million that would also cover the costs of textbooks – an additional major expense for collegians.

The news comes on the heels of President Obama’s proposal to make community college free in America for many students. Obama’s plan is unlikely to clear Congress, but at least students in Philadelphia can face a brighter future without the portent of crippling student debt hanging over their graduation caps.