Blackburn College in Carlinville is providing an opportunity for lower income students from Macoupin County. Those from families earning less than $60,000 a year can attend the college for free.
Students will still have to meet the regular admission requirements and apply for financial aid like the Monetary Award Program or Pell grants, with that money going to help offset the tuition and fee cost.
“If only people with money are allowed to go to college, then what is the future of our society of democracy and our society? It’s not very good,” President John Comerford said.
Sean Crawford talks with Blackburn College President John Comerford
The school has a history of helping students who might not otherwise be able to afford higher education. This latest effort is called the Macoupin Promise and Comerford sees it as a positive for the county’s future.
“This is a program that will allow students to go to college locally,” he said. “And if they stay local for college they are more likely to stay locally for employment, as entrepreneurs, and give these communities a little brighter future.”
“This doesn’t change the world overnight. But imagine over 20 years of educating young people in the small towns around us and what that does for the future of these communities. We think that’s a very exciting thing.”
Copyright 2021 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS. To see more, visit NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS. 9(MDEwNzMwNTg2MDEzNTgxODc5OTM3MWU0Ng004))
