Your student will soon be transitioning into the next phase of their life after graduation. I want to be sure parents are aware of the great options available at Blue Ridge Community College.
Virginia's Community Colleges have drastically changed in the last twenty years with a variety of options and pathways available.
- Workforce Blue Ridge offers workforce training (including healthcare fields), to improve job preparedness and award certifications leading to financially successful careers. These are not "college classes" although college credits can be earned if the student begins in these "workforce" classes then decides to pursue a college degree as well. Follow this link to see all the workforce courses, timelines, and pathways available: https://www.brcc.edu/continuinged/
- Guaranteed Transfer In these uncertain times, many students are choosing to stay a little closer to home. They plan to take advantage of Virginia's Guaranteed Transfer agreements (also referred to as the 2 + 2 pathway). Simply stated, the student achieves two years of college credits through Blue Ridge, and will then be guaranteed acceptance into any of Virginia's Public Universities (and many private ones as well). Follow this link to learn more about these specific agreements: https://www.brcc.edu/services/advising/transfer/advising-guides/
- Associate's Degrees A surprising number of today's most lucrative fields of study only require a two year Associate's Degree before full employment. Follow this link and look closely at Blue Ridge's two year programs. You will see them labeled as AAS, AA&S, or AS: https://catalog.brcc.edu/programs-study/#programsbyawardtext
- Financial Advice Complete your FAFSA online. (45 minutes) https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa All colleges/universities use the FAFSA to determine how much federal money in grants or loans you will receive. The decision is based on the parent's income. If your family qualifies for free/reduced lunch you are likely to receive a grant each year that pays for the full cost of attending Blue Ridge. All students will be offered a loan regardless of parental income. The annually offered loan has a great rate and no payments are due until after you complete college.
- College Cost Estimates in Virginia Here is a ranked list of the cost of one year of study in Virginia's public and private colleges/universities. https://www.collegecalc.org/lists/virginia/most-affordable-in-state-total/?view=all
- Costs at Blue Ridge Community College Earning a College Degree at Blue Ridge costs less than $6,000 per year. Earning Workforce Credentials varies from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Most Workforce Credentials can be completed in 6 to 24 weeks while still employed in your current job. Many workforce credentials are supported, for all students, by state grants reducing the cost by two-thirds!
Ready to Attend Blue Ridge to increase your COLLEGE education?
1. Apply online. (10 minutes) https://www.apply.vccs.edu/applications/vccs/apply.html?application_id=3228
2. Set up an appointment with a BRCC Advisor. https://www.brcc.edu/services/appointments/
Ready to Attend Blue Ridge increase your WORKFORCE skills?
1. Do NOT complete the college application linked in number one above.
2. Instead, use this link to register for courses or to speak with someone for more information about your Workforce Credential options. https://brcc.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=templates.CustomTemplatePreview&ContentID=148&
Please contact the Career Coach, Jennifer Martin, at jmmartin@rockingham.k12.va.us if you need additional assistance or information!