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Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Chancellor Ryan Gower is urging prospective students to apply before the October 29 priority deadline to be the first in line for Student Success Scholarships.
“A college education continues to be one of the best vehicles to improve an individual’s quality of life,” Gower said. “Students who graduate with a two-year degree from IECC will — on average — earn $300,000 more in lifetime earnings than high school graduates. If they go on to earn a bachelor’s degree, they will earn approximately $750,000 more in lifetime earnings than high school graduates.”
With these increased earning potentials, Gower says it is not surprising more students are attending college now than in past years. Unfortunately, far too many students and their parents are taking on unnecessary levels of student debt in the process, with the average student debt in the United States just over $30,000.
“We are encouraging area students to apply to IECC early because we want them to make informed decisions about how they can approach their college education differently,” Gower said. “When a student starts at Olney Central College, they not only receive a high-quality education, they save about $40,000 over their first two years of college. No matter how you look at it, attending Olney Central College is a smart financial decision.”
Make Olney Central College your priority! Take the first step toward a high-quality, nationally recognized education and apply for free at www.iecc.edu/priority. Submit your application and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the October 29 priority deadline to maximize your financial award. Students will receive an estimated cost of attendance by mid-November.
Students that want additional help filling out their FAFSA can attend IECC’s Virtual FAFSA Night on October 13 from 4-7 p.m. Financial aid experts can help students and their families fill out the FAFSA and answer other financial aid questions they have. Students can visit www.iecc.edu/fafsa to register for the event and get additional tips on how to fill out the FAFSA. The FAFSA opens October 1.
