MATC rolling out new free-tuition program to lure working adults back to finish college

Low to middle-income Milwaukee area adults with some college, but no degree, may finally get the nudge they need to complete an associate degree: free tuition at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

MATC is launching a new program called the MATC Promise for Adults. The college considers it a game changer for income-eligible adults 24 and older who, for whatever reason, did not make it to college graduation and could better their careers — and the state's workforce — by reaching the finish line.

It's the latest strategy to help the state's public and private colleges and universities reach a goal of 60% of all Wisconsin residents ages 25 to 64 holding a college credential by 2027.

Currently, 26% of Wisconsin adults have a college degree; the national average is 28%.

In Milwaukee County alone, an estimated 135,000 adults — about 22% of the county's adult residents — have started but not completed a college degree, according to MATC President Vicki Martin.

"We want to make sure tuition is not the reason for not coming back to school," Martin said. "There's an urgent need by our employers for a trained workforce. … This is a way to help move the needle."

The program is only for adults who live in the MATC district, have a household income of $56,000 or less, have already earned at least six college credits, but have not been enrolled in college for at least two years.

Participants must choose an associate degree program linked to a Wisconsin Top 50 in-demand career — a list of careers including landscape horticulture, various business specialties, early childhood education, health care, hospitality, IT, criminal justice, welding, supply chain management and electronic or automotive technology.

Students in the program must enroll in at least six credits each fall and spring semester and earn at least a 2.0 semester GPA, completing 67% of the credits they attempt in a semester.

No state tax dollars are involved. The primary funding source is federal Pell Grants for low-income students. Eligible students can earn up to 75 credits, tuition-free, after other scholarship and grants are applied.

Milwaukee County Executive and philanthropist Chris Abele gave $500,000 toward the program. The college is matching that amount with proceeds from an FCC auction that freed up public television bandwidth for wireless communication.

MATC will do additional fundraising.

“In broad strokes, whenever scholarships can make career-empowering education accessible to those for whom it otherwise wouldn’t be, they are a powerful tool to uplift all of society,” Abele said. 

“They’re even more powerful when an institution like MATC has worked hard to identify an under-reached population that wants to return to school and specifically to prepare for careers where there is demand right now among employers,” he said.

Finances are the No. 1 barrier to completing a college degree, according to several surveys.

Researchers at Full Circle conducted an online survey with a nationally representative sample of more than 1,000 U.S. adults between ages 23 and 55 who did not have bachelor's degrees.

Roughly 60% of respondents said they had considered returning to school to complete a degree. About 75% said they worried about student loans and 70% felt unable to afford college.

At the same time, about 70% of respondents believed colleges successfully prepare adult students for the workplace and 70% believed having a bachelor's degree was important to secure a job.

The MATC Promise for Adults income eligibility of $56,000 or less (based on the federal student aid application) is a nod to the state's median household income, which in 2016 was $56,811.

Older students have obstacles beyond tuition, which is $1,824 per semester for a full-time load of 12 credits. They also balance childcare, transportation issues and jobs.

Martin said the new Promise program will provide support to help students stay on track to graduate and connect to a career, recognizing that most of these students stopped taking courses because life got in the way and they were juggling other commitments with jobs and families.

Those interested in the program must complete an MATC application and a Promise grant application at matc.edu/promise. They also must complete the federal student aid application (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov.  

The MATC Promise for Adults is the second free-tuition program launched by MATC and is one of several programs in the state, tapping a national movement to make a college degree more affordable for first-generation and low-income students.

In fall 2015, the college launched a Promise for New High School Grads — the first Promise program in Wisconsin. MATC will welcome its third class in that program this fall.

RELATED:MATC announces free tuition for low-income students

So far, the MATC Promise for New High School Grads has attracted students with significant financial need. More than 70% of current Promise for New High School Grads students come from families with incomes that are low enough to qualify for a maximum federal financial aid award, according to MATC spokesman Tony Tagliavia.

The new high school grads program has attracted additional students who do not meet all criteria, Tagliavia said. Many are still attending MATC and receiving financial aid and other support to stay on track to graduation, he said.

The MATC Promise for Adult Students is modeled after a similar program in Tennessee called Tennessee Reconnect.

UW-Madison last month rolled out a similar college completion program called Badger Ready for adults ages 25 and older with at least some college credit.