Even though there was no increase in the Consumer Price Index this past year.
Tuition is now $77 per credit hour.
But tuition is free to MCC high school graduates for at least the next five years.
That’s because of a program called “McHenry County Promise.”
Of course, there are some catches. Promise students have to maintain a “C” average and complete a minimum of 16 volunteer hours per semester (32 hours per year) while enrolled in the program at MCC.
High school graduates eligible include all in McHenry County, except those in the Carpentersville, Barrington, and Wauconda School Districts, which are in other community college districts.
Those who wish to contribute or seek more information about McHenry County Promise can find it at the Friends of McHenry County College Foundation.
4,000 high school students are potentially eligible starting in September. Only tuition is covered. Students will have to buy their own books and pay their own fees.
While currently there is only enough money for the program to last five years, the hope is to gain enough contributors to make the program permanent.
Kalamazoo pioneered the concept. In Illinois, Peoria started the first “Promise” program.
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The northern entrance to McHenry County College is shown in the photo.
Maybe I’m just being an Ass. But I’m sort of upset about this program. I graduated high school in 1986. I struggled to pay for college with grants and loans for a year going to Illinois State. I came back home and worked to pay for school at MCC a couple of years. Ends were not meeting so I joined the Navy in 1990. I did so primarily for education benefits. Between the GI Bill and the Illinois Veterans benefits I got my Associates from MCC; as well as other classes at other schools.
Now all graduating high school students get to go to MCC free (tuition)and all they need to do is 32 hours of community service each school year. I lived my “community” service 24/7, 365 days a year for 4 years to EARN my free tuition.
Why the big handout? Is a college education the next entitlement??
On top of everything else, I earned my high school (Marian Central) tuition by sweeping floors during the school year and working at the school during summers too.
You Catholic high school experience sounds like my father-in-law’s.
Vince Giangrasso paid for all but $90 of his tuition at DeLaSalle High School by doing janitorial work.