Mesa, AZ — In a move aimed at bolstering the educational prospects of its adult residents, Mesa College Promise has announced an expansion to its tuition coverage program. According to an official release from the city, starting this year, Mesa residents 24 years or older can now qualify to have two years of tuition and fees completely covered at Mesa Community College (MCC), as long as they meet the eligibility requirements. This initiative began in 2021 and has since supported hundreds of students trying to make their way through higher education.
The program, a collaboration between Mesa Mayor John Giles, MCC, and participating businesses, was designed to aggressively remove financial barriers to college attendance for nontraditional students. "The Mesa College Promise plays a vital role in connecting Mesa residents with pathways to higher education and better job prospects, and the expansion of the Promise to adult learners multiplies its potential," Mayor Giles said, highlighting the broader economic impacts of an educated workforce. Documentation of these enhancements was accessible via the official city news release.
Eligible individuals wishing to apply for the Mesa College Promise must demonstrate financial need through FAFSA, have earned a high school diploma or GED, and must be enrolling in MCC as a degree or certificate-seeking student, among other criteria. "Education is a powerful tool used to pull the greatness from our students that rests within them," said Dr. Kimberly Britt, the Interim President of MCC, in a statement obtained by the college's official website. The program is positioned to help meet the state's Achieve60 goal, which aims to see 60% of Arizona adults equipped with higher education or workforce certifications by 2030.
Google has recently entered the fold, contributing $100,000 to help inclusively expand the initiative to more adult learners. "Google’s sponsorship is not just a financial investment; it's an integral part of our commitment to this community," Dr. Kate Franko from Google stated, indicating the importance of cooperation between public and private sectors in supporting education. Mesa College Promise has thus far received upwards of $760,000 in donations from government and private entities. The program's success story can be seen in the personal experiences of its scholars like Rosalee Martinez and Cristian Guevara, who both extolled the academic and financial support they received, as reported by Mesa's city news portal.
Interested individuals can find full details and the application for the program at mesacc.edu/mesa-promise. With registration already open, Mesa community members have the opportunity to chart new academic courses that may have otherwise been financially out of reach. The Mesa College Promise program stands as a benchmark in the city's efforts to invest in its citizens' futures and by extension, to strengthen the foundation of its local economy.
