WCC freezes tuition rates and fees amid financial crisis, ramps up online offerings
ANN ARBOR – As part of an ongoing commitment to affordability and in recognition of the severe financial impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on students and the community, Washtenaw Community College announced it will freeze all tuition rates and fees for the 2020-21 academic year.
The WCC Board of Trustees unanimously approved the freeze at its April 28 meeting.
President Dr. Rose B. Bellanca said the intention of the tuition freeze is to provide a financial break for current and prospective students affected negatively by COVID-19, including those looking to upskill or retrain after being laid off. She also noted, however, that it will be beneficial to every member of the community as uncertainties surrounding the pandemic continue.
“We’ve heard from parents who are concerned about sending their sons and daughters away to school, so we’re ramping up online delivery of core classes that transfer to all universities to make sure those students don’t fall behind in their educational goals,” Bellanca said. “We’re leveraging a 15-year focus on distance learning and expanding WCC Online to include more online course options adapted to meet student needs.”
WCC is rated one of the 50 best online community colleges in the country by Affordable Colleges Online and No. 1 online community college in Michigan by Schools.com.
Even before the decision to freeze tuition and fees, WCC took great pride in the affordability of its $95-per-credit-hour tuition rate for on-campus, in-district students. According to data from the American Association of Community Colleges, WCC’s annual in-district tuition rate of $2,280 for full-time students is 78% less than the average at the nation’s public four-year institutions ($10,230).
WCC is the most affordable online higher education option in the state. The in-district tuition rate for online classes is $108 per credit hour, nearly $400 less than the average tuition rate at Michigan’s public four-year universities. That makes the savings for a standard three-credit hour class nearly $1,200.
View our Tuition Saving Calculator to compare tuition rates at WCC with the four-year public and private colleges and universities in the state of Michigan.
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