Starting Nov. 1, SCTCC discontinued charging a fee for application to the college. The decision was a result of inter-departmental efforts to reduce barriers for those seeking to attain a college education.
Combined with additional programs to reduce financial burdens and the academic and non-academic supports that SCTCC offers, the move allows for a more holistic approach to students' college success to reach their career goals.
With work from the Minnesota State Board of Trustees and SCTCC, the following options are in effect to help reduce barriers to college:
- Apply to SCTCC for free - always
- Tuition rates are frozen at 2022-2023 levels through 2025. This means tuition costs are guaranteed to be the same from 2022-2025
- Free tuition and fees for all Minnesota students with a family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) under $80,000 through the North Star Promise Scholarship starting Fall 2024
- SCTCC scholarships - fill out just one app, and you're considered for all scholarships that SCTCC offers
- One of the best values for colleges in the state and the best value in the St. Cloud region
The funding that made the tuition freeze possible was one outcome of the 2023 legislative session that featured a $292.9 million investment in the colleges and universities of Minnesota State, including SCTCC. The legislation provides funding to freeze tuition rates for undergraduate degree-granting programs for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 academic years at 2022-2023 academic year rates.
In addition to the tuition freeze, other key provisions of the final bill that enhances higher education affordability and accessibility included funding for:
- Developing and expanding industry sector programming to build capacity and support new and redesigned curricular options with an emphasis on offering students work-based learning experiences. State funds will be matched with cash or in-kind contributions from non-state sources.
- Improving college and university equipment and learning environments – state funds will be matched with cash or in-kind contributions from non-state sources.
- Expanding offerings in free course materials and resources, including through open educational resources, open textbooks, and implementation of “Z-Degrees” (complete associate or bachelor's degree programs that exclusively use course resources that are available at no cost to students).
- Continuing the highly successful Workforce Development Scholarship program that encourages students to enter programs in high demand by employers.
Once students have been accepted and enrolled in classes, they are able to engage with SCTCC's non-academic supports, including:
- Free tutoring at the CAS (Center for Academic Success)
- On-campus Cyclones Cupboard Food Pantry for anyone needing food or hygiene supplies
- Free short-term mental health counseling
- Basic needs manager to connect students to on-campus and community services and resources
- Crisis grants for short-term assistance with essential needs
- Career Services to help you find a job while in college or after graduating from SCTCC
Faculty and staff at SCTCC continue to work on making education accessible to everyone who wants to learn a new skill, earn credits at a low cost for a transfer degree, or start their path to their career.