ICC, NEMCC Among Nation’s Most Affordable

(WCBI Staff Report) — Three Mississippi community colleges, including to in Northeast Mississippi, are ranked among the 50 most affordable community colleges in the country.

Holmes Community College in Goodman is ranked 40th, Itawamba Community College is ranked 43rd and Northeast Mississippi Community College in Booneville is ranked 45th, according to by the newly-launched AffordableColleges.com website.

Holmes ranked 40th with an average in-state tuition of $2,000 a semester and an institutional financial aid rate of 40 percent.

ICC ranks 43rd with an average in-state tuition of $2,100 per semester and a 51 percent institutional financial aid rate. The College offers academic, technical or vocational options at its locations including Fulton, Tupelo and Belden as well as an extensive schedule of eLearning classes.

NEMCC ranked 45th with an average in-state tuition of $2,250 a semester and an institutional financial aid rate of 62 percent. The two-year school has campuses in Booneville, Corinth and New Albany.

AffordableColleges.com has been created to help make college more cost-effective for students, according to its outreach manager Vanessa Green. “The soaring cost of higher education – and student debt topping over $1 trillion – has prompted students to seek more affordable options. In order to give students a realistic cost of their higher education, we looked at average in-state tuition and institutional financial aid rate for every community college in the country, narrowing down the list to 50 schools that are the most financially accessible.”

The website encourages students to consider potential schools based on academics, accreditation, campus culture and distance learning options.

“Providing affordable and accessible education is a significant component of Itawamba Community College’s mission,” said ICC President Mike Eaton. “National recognition of the College’s endeavor is an indication that the College is fulfilling that mission.”