The Lead.
Community colleges are leading the way with the increase in enrollment in higher education, and Marion Technical College is no exception. This fall semester, a record 3,488 students are coming to Marion Tech to succeed. This breaks the record enrollment last spring of 3,226 students. This is a nearly 12% increase over Fall 2023 and a 23% increase over Fall 2022. This is up 63% over Fall 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic reduced college enrollment nationwide.
“Students and their families are savvy shoppers. They want a quality, affordable, convenient education that leads to well-paying careers or advancement. Marion Tech is the smart choice,” said Dr. Amy Adams, executive vice president of Planning, Advancement and Student Engagement at Marion Tech. “We serve a variety of local students who find Marion Tech the best way to get ahead without incurring debt.”
Students From Many Backgrounds Served
Marion Tech’s student body includes 1,894 middle and high school students earning college credit at no cost to them or their families through the College Credit Plus program. This has saved families millions of dollars in tuition. Some have earned one-year certificates or associate’s degrees before graduating from high school.
The college also serves 1,247 more traditional students, from those recently graduated from high school to working parents and grandparents ready to get ahead who appreciate online options and evening classes. The college also serves 347 students in local prisons looking for skills to succeed after release.
“Time is money. Students can earn a micro-certs in a few classes, a one-year certificate, an associate’s degree or even three or four years of a bachelor’s degree in nursing. These programs focus on in-demand careers and programs that provide a strong return on their investment.”
Affordable Tuition with a Great Return on Investment
Marion Tech offers a great value. Full-time tuition is just $6,000 a year – less than a fifth of the cost of tuition, room and board at state universities or a fraction of a cost of a private university. Marion Tech also offers many Open Educational Resources, where high-quality materials are free to students, saving millions in the cost of books.
A Pell grant covers the entire cost of tuition at Marion Tech. There are also a number of grants, scholarships and work-study programs to reduce the cost of tuition.
With a number of transfer partnerships, Marion Tech can continue their education with two or even three years of their bachelor’s degree completed, reducing the cost by half or more. Many colleges also offer special scholarships just for Marion Tech’s graduates as well as discounts on tuition.
In-Demand Programs
In addition, Marion Tech offers degrees leading directly to growing, well-paying fields including physical therapist assistants, occupational therapy assistant, engineering techs, sonography, software developers and cyber security professionals.
“With an investment of two years and $12,000, you can enter a field that pays more than $60,000. Some health care fields are also offering signing bonuses of $5,000 to $10,000 or more,” Dr. Adams said
Fall classes started today. Shorter 8-week classes start in Oct. For more information, go to mtc.edu, email enroll@mtc.edu, call (740) 389-4636 or schedule an appointment at visit.mtc.edu.
