If you’re worried about the cost of a college education, you’re not alone. Cost continues to top the list of concerns students and their families have about college.
But for students interested in high-demand career fields, including business and computer science, construction and trades, transportation and logistics, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare, the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship could return a tuition-free degree.
If you are a college-bound Kentucky resident who does not yet have an associate degree or higher, you should check out this scholarship. There is no age or income limit.
From nursing and welding to diesel technology and business administration, there are more than 20 programs at ECTC covered by the scholarship. This includes two-year degree options as well as certificates that can be completed in as little as four months.
In the 2021-22 academic year, the scholarship paid nearly $1.2 million to 434 ECTC students. Whether it’s out-of-pocket fees, debts, or a hurdle that would have prevented them from landing their dream career, there’s no doubt that the scholarship makes a difference for ECTC students.
Respiratory care student Austin Decker of Clarkson is one of those 434 students. He always wanted to work in respiratory care, in part because of his personal experience with asthma, he said. Hence, being accepted into the ECTC Respiratory Care Program was a significant moment in his educational journey. With his tuition paid, he doesn’t have to juggle a work schedule and can focus on his studies and his long-standing career goal.
“The app is simple. It’s as easy as it gets to get your tuition paid,” Decker said. “I will graduate debt-free next year.”
Graduated with opportunities, no debts. We know how important this is for students. Ours is the lowest tuition in the state—$182 per credit hour—and opportunities like the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship and many other resources make the total cost of college even more affordable.
The scholarship covers up to 60 credit hours and up to $400 per year in fees. New this year, there is no time limit on the scholarship. Until now, the scholarship could only be used for a maximum of four semesters. This is great news for part-time students who only want to take two or three classes per semester.
The steps to apply for the scholarship are simple. First, apply to ECTC at elizabethtown.kctcs.edu. Second, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov as of October 1 of the year preceding the start of university. And third, complete the one-page Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Application at kheaa.com. The scholarship application is released in May for the following academic year, which means those planning to start college in the fall of 2023 will save this step.
Money is still available for those who want to start in the 2022-23 school year, and there’s still time to enroll in the fall 2022 classes that begin August 15.
To see the complete list of certificates, diplomas and degrees eligible for the scholarship, go to workreadyky.com. If you have questions about the Work Ready Kentucky scholarship, how to get into college, or filling out financial aid forms, we’re ready to help. Email us at [email protected].
Michael Barlow is Director of Financial Aid at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. He can be reached at [email protected] or 270-769-2371.
Michael Barlow is Director of Financial Aid at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. He can be reached at [email protected] or 270-769-2371.
