From the President:
At a time when a number of community colleges around the nation are raising tuition rates for the 2022–23 academic year, the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees adopted an affordability initiative that will lower the cost of tuition for career and technical education courses at Western Colorado Community College by nearly 40%.
For nearly three decades, the Bishop Campus has been a workhorse creating diverse pathways for students across the Grand Valley. For 15 of those years, I have seen firsthand the positive impact WCCC has had on the region, both for employers and for job seekers. Yet, what we've found is that a flat, university-level tuition rate for career and technical credentials has become a barrier for students and their families. At the same time, local employers are in desperate need of skilled workers to fill jobs.
By adopting the Learn for Less initiative, in-state WCCC students will now pay $197 per credit hour ($160 tuition + $37 mandatory fees) for most WCCC programs instead of the current rate of $321.45. This lower tuition and fee rate will begin in the Fall 2022 semester.
Many in the community came to know CMU Trustee Tillie Bishop and his wife, Pat, over the years. In true form, Tillie and Pat left CMU a sizable gift in their estate and this new source of revenue is helping make this new “buy down” of the tuition rate for career and technical programs possible.
I hope you'll stay tuned for updates on this major initiative in the coming weeks. Until then, we’ll be celebrating this exciting news.
Best,
John Marshall
CMU President
For more details visit, wccc.coloradomesa.edu/tuition.