ELLISVILLE– In an effort to make college more affordable and tuition costs easier to understand, Jones College has changed its tuition and fee pricing model to a program-based tuition pricing structure. Administrators took the concerns of students and parents to heart and developed a pathway to ensure the institution’s “open-door” mission continues, while also helping its students thrive.
“In the 2024-25 academic year, the average Jones College student will save $200 per semester. This is the ultimate impact Jones College is aiming to have on our students and community. Affordability has always been and will continue to be an excellent benefit of attending Jones College,” said Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith.
Students like practical nursing major, Shatara Keyes of Louin, said she really likes the idea of saving money and expects other students will be excited about the savings too.
“It sounds like it’s going to be something great coming to school, especially for people with low-income families and like, mothers going back to school. I think it’s going to be great!” said Keyes. She added, “It’s also going to be easier going through the one-page, all-inclusive program-based tuition sheet instead of the 14-page fee document I had to go through this semester to find the cost of tuition.”
Currently, the program-based tuition pricing for all full-time academic students seeking university parallel programs, which includes 12+ credit hours, is now $2,350 per term. A part-time student will pay $196 per course hour. Each of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and medical programs will also have an all-inclusive tuition cost with everything a student needs for that class. Smith stressed there are no hidden fees with this tuition restructuring.
“Our instructional team worked diligently to identify every possible cost a CTE, or professional student may experience at JC, and wrap those costs up into one, clear price per program. The new pricing for Jones College’s CTE and professional programs accurately reflects all costs associated with that program,” Smith explained. “While this improves clarity of costs for our incoming students, it also helps our students identify the powerful return on investment they earn by taking on the challenge and completing the program.”
A few other changes students will notice include the credit hours to qualify as a full-time student is now 12 hours, but the full-time scholarship and state-aid requirements will remain at 15 semester credit hours. Dual Credit tuition for academic programs will be a flat rate of $195 per seat. CTE programs will be priced based on the program and format.
Additionally, this fall, Jones College students are transitioning to a four-day class schedule allowing students to have a longer weekend with classes being offered Monday through Thursday. Classes begin on Monday, August 19. For more information about these changes at Jones College, click on the link: https://www.jcjc.edu/Fall_2024/