Educational Opportunities in Your Backyard!
As time goes on, education and degrees seem to start mattering more and more to employers, with most jobs now requiring a high school diploma. To stay competitive and ahead of the curve in your career path, it might be worth looking into higher education. It is never too late to further your education! Choosing to take the leap and earn a degree is a big step, but with the multitude of resources available to assist in the process, it feels a bit more manageable. Whether you are wanting to earn a GED, professional training and certification, or a college degree, you are on the right track to get there. Thinking about improving is the first step to change, and the next step is to take action. There is no one-size-fits-all option to choosing an educational or career path, so it is important to do research about the field of study you want to pursue. You can research jobs using the NC Careers website to match career goals with educational programs and opportunities at the institution you would like to attend. Below will be some websites and resources for education institutions and financial aid opportunities in Jackson County.
GED Info:
If you are looking to get your high school equivalency diploma, North Carolina students are required to take four GED subtests or five HiSET subtests either online or at an official NC test center. These can be taken separately, at your own pace, within a year. In North Carolina, the GED test costs $80 when you take the exam at one of North Carolina’s official GED testing centers. Online GED testing costs $144 for the full GED exam, but you may count as well the additional $28 for four GED Ready tests, which totals it all to $172. The HiSET exam is 53.75 (when taken on a computer) or $75 (on paper). HSE testers have the option to register for, pay for, and take the four GED or five HiSET subtests one (or more) at a time. It is vital to prepare well for these exams, and study materials can be found in local libraries or bookstores or find preparation resources online, such as the 108 free online GED videos and practice tests on the Onsego website.
FAFSA:
The first step to seek financial aid is to fill out the FAFSA form on Federal Student Aid website. If this is your first time applying to college, it can be an overwhelming process, so to be sure that you are prepared for the application, check out the Student College Prep Checklist website. After the form has been processed, you will be able to review your award offer to see the amount you are able to receive based on the school you applied for.
CFNC:
February is Financial Aid Awareness Month! The College Foundation of North Carolina offers help for planning, applying, and paying for college. Resources offered by CFNC include ACT and SAT preparation, financial literacy courses, information on college entrance requirements, and ways to pay for your education. For Financial Aid Awareness Month, CFNC and NCSEAA are hosting four free Zoom sessions for the How to Pay for College webinar series. These will be every Thursday of February 2023 from 6-7 pm and will discuss all the important information needed to pay for college. Visit the CFNC website to get more information and use their planning tools to see the path that works best for you.
Southwestern Community College:
SCC is a wonderful, affordable school that offers more than 40 different programs of study. This award winning community college can help get you get started on whichever career path you choose, from engineering or arts trades through their more than 90 credential options. If you feel that a four-year degree is better suited for your goals, you can save thousands of dollars by starting through Southwestern Community College. You can view the catalog of classes to see if SCC has the courses that you need to complete your degree at the course catalog on the SCC website. To estimate out how much SCC would cost for you, use their Southwestern Community College Net Price Calculator website. This online calculator can help provide estimated net price information to see the estimated cost of attendance for that school year.
Western Carolina University:
While I might be biased, Western Carolina University is an amazing institution to further your education. WCU offers more than 115 undergraduate majors and concentrations and more than 40 graduate programs that can assist students in achieving high-demand degrees. While it is a four-year university, there are many ways to reduce the cost of tuition and make this an affordable option for you. A huge benefit of choosing Western Carolina is their partnership to the NC Promise Tuition Plan, reducing the tuition for undergraduate students to just $500 for in-state and $2,500 for out of-state per semester, with no eligibility restrictions to hold you back. Learn more about taking advantage of NC Promise on the NC Promise at WCU website. This reduces the cost of tuition, but try to remember other costs of attendance and fees, such as living, food expenses, books and supplies, and other related expenses. To find out en estimated cost of attendance at WCU, use the Western Carolina University Net Price Calculator website. Visit the WCU Financial Aid website to find the tools and resources needed to fund your degree, as well as finding forms and deadlines. This website can help guide your way to applying for and then tracking financial aid to help you more easily navigate the sometimes confusing process that FAFSA.
If you have any questions about the financial aid process or the steps toward furthering your education, please feel free to reach out and contact me at intern@circlesofjackson.org and I will be happy to assist you.