Any costs incurred by the Community College for the new program will be paid for by the City, businesses and education community; Yavapai launched its tuition-free program in fall 2019
Mesa Mayor John Giles announced Tuesday, February 4, the decision to provide free tuition for eligible Mesa Community College students beginning fall 2020. According to Giles, the city of Mesa has been studying the issue for the past year and received recommendations the end of January for starting the Mesa College Promise campaign.
“The Mesa College Promise means free tuition at community college for eligible students graduating from local high schools,” Giles said during his State of the City address.
Under the direction of Dr. Lisa Rhine, Yavapai Community College has already launched an experimental program somewhat similar to the Mesa effort. In the fall 2019 more than 300 new students enrolled in the program at Yavapai.
It does not apply to students seeking certificates. And there are specific requirements. For example, the Yavapai program is restricted to County residents and they must complete their degree within seven semesters after graduation from high school.
The program provides eligible students a last dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover tuition not otherwise covered by Federal, State, Yavapai College, or other 3rd party (for example, high school, Yavapai College Foundation, Tribe, employer) grants, discounts, or scholarships. However, the program will reimburse no more than 61 credits of the tuition paid by a student.
When an eligible student completes his or her coursework after seven semesters of high school or GED graduation, any tuition that was paid out-of-pocket for tuition will be reimbursed. The program is strictly limited to tuition. It does not reimburse other related expenses including, but not limited to, books, course and program fees, or other cost of living expenses such as transportation, food, and housing.