Worcester Business Journal

30 2016 Economic Forecast www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal E d u c a t i o n Mount Wachusett Community College, and we look forward to pro- viding their students opportunities to build on their work at MWCC to seek a Clark degree." Eligible students will also be con- sidered for the Phi Theta Kappa S c h ol ar s h ip, t h e Tr ans fe r Achievement Scholarship, the Clark University Scholarship and the Jonas Clark Transfer Scholarship. At Clark, students will experience LEEP (Liberal Education and Effective Practice), a pioneering model of education that combines liberal arts education with intensive world, workplace, and personal expe- riences, the statement said. F our public institutions of higher education in Central Massachusetts are collaborating to guarantee qualifying students four years of post-secondary schooling for $30,000. The arrangement begins this fall. It involves Fitchburg State University, Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester and Worcester State University. A statement from Quinsigamond Community College said the initia- tive, called the $30K Commitment, "is a promise from the institutions to support the career goals of Massachusetts residents, prepare stu- dents for high-demand degrees, and outline clear paths for students to complete affordable associate's and bachelor's degrees in four years." Tuition and fees will be frozen for the four years for the students who qualify. The average cost of in-state tuition and fees for public institutions is $9,139 a year, the statement said. The collaboration reduces the cost of a four-year degree program to $7,500 a year. The $30K Commitment aligns degree programs and allows for seam- less transfers between the two-year and four-year institutions, the state- ment said. Fields of study included in the pro- gram are business administration, computer science, early childhood education, biotechnology, criminal justice, biology and chemistry. "The $30K Commitment will allow motivated students to complete their associate's and bachelor's degrees for the average cost of a single year of higher education," QCC President Gail Carberry said in the statement. n A Fact of Business Life in Central Massachusetts For advertising information contact: Mark Murray, Associate Publisher 508.755.8004 x227 mbmurray@wbjournal.com don't measure up. The others www.wbjournal.com Mississippi .......................................($38) Maine ........................................... ($300) Massachusetts ........................... ($479) Florida ............................................($753) Wisconsin .......................................($766) Washington ....................................($852) Alabama .........................................($879) Kansas ...........................................($904) Louisiana ........................................($946) West Virginia .............................. ($1,021) New Jersey ................................ ($1,032) Utah ........................................... ($1,046) Iowa ........................................... ($1,217) Minnesota .................................. ($1,224) Missouri ..................................... ($1,255) Arizona ....................................... ($1,381) Delaware .................................... ($1,499) Indiana ....................................... ($1,546) Montana .................................... ($1,613) South Carolina ............................ ($1,658) South Dakota ............................. ($1,674) Virginia ....................................... ($1,773) Michigan ................................... ($1,787) Rhode Island ............................. ($1,862) Ohio ........................................... ($2,237) Oregon ....................................... ($2,338) Pennsylvania .............................. ($2,898) Colorado ..................................... ($3,529) Vermont .................................... ($3,736) New Hampshire ........................ ($4,192) Below average states Massachusetts is among the states that fall below the U.S. average for higher education funding per full-time student. Here's where Massachusetts and other below-average funders stood in FY 2014. Amount below State national average Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers Association Amount below State national average Four years of higher education in Central Mass. for $30K Need new equipment? Looking to expand? Trying to develop a new product? MassDevelopment can help. We offer loans for growth initiatives, long-term financing for real estate projects, and innovation grants to help drive your workforce. And with easier access to business expertise and support, there are so many ways to grow. For more information, call 800.445.8083, or visit MassDevelopment.com/manufacturers. Way to grow. You create great products. We create ways to make it possible. KHJ22064_MAS142_MANUFACTURING_6.5x6_mech.indd 1 12/9/15 1:27 PM

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