A new need-based funding program for New Hampshire community college students is going to help more people get the education they need to thrive.
The Community College System of New Hampshire’s “Promise Program” covers the gap between the amount of aid a student receives and the total cost of tuition and fees required to attend one of the seven community colleges in the state. Students must be eligible for federal Pell grants to obtain this funding. Students applying to New Hampshire’s community colleges will be automatically considered for the Promise Program when they apply for federal aid and complete the FAFSA form.
The program means more students can not only afford to go to college — but can also graduate and start their careers without the heavy burden of student loan debt.
This is a step in the right direction for New Hampshire students. New Hampshire has among the highest in-state tuition rates in the country and among the lowest state contributions to higher education. New Hampshire students carry the highest average student loan debt in the U.S. New Hampshire now joins all the other New England states in covering community college cost for students most in need.
The Promise Program, which was funded by the state legislature for a single year, means other funding sources can help more students.
The Charitable Foundation is the largest publicly available source of student aid in New Hampshire. The Foundation helps eligible students studying for two- and four-year degrees, plus professional licenses and certificates. Our student aid program provided more than $830,000 in scholarships to some 300 students attending community college in New Hampshire last year.
With the advent of the Promise Program, the overall funding pie has essentially gotten larger — so more people can be served.
Charitable Foundation applications for students studying at community colleges are now on an open enrollment basis, and there is no deadline to apply. Learn more and apply here.
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