INDIANAPOLIS–A new program that will make college more affordable for students is being provided by Purdue University.
It’s called the “Fast Start” program. Former Indiana Governor and Purdue President Mitch Daniels says it’s open to all people who live in Indiana, but is expected to really help rural and inner-city students.
“To complete many credits, perhaps a whole year completely free,” Daniels said.
On Tuesday, Purdue announced a partnership with Modern States Education Alliance to offer free online classes to high school students and anyone else who is interested. Modern States is a nonprofit dedicated to making college free and accessible to everyone.
Students who finish 10 free online courses and pass the College Level Examination Program test will get 30 credits, the equivalent of an entire freshman year for free at Purdue University.
“We hope that this will lead to a significant increase in young people who will otherwise not even make the attempt to know there is a way to Purdue, for them,” Daniels explained.
If you pass at least five of those CLEP exams, you’ll earn guaranteed admission to Purdue, which will save you $11,000.
Teresa Lubbers, Indiana’s Commissioner for Higher Education, tells WISH-TV Tuesday’s announcement is a good thing.
“The idea that a student can start college with a semester of credit or a year of credit and save the money for that, for housing or books, is a really a game-changer for people. We need to look for ways to drive down the cost of higher education,” Lubbers said.
For more information, call 765-494-1776. If you are hearing impaired, you can call 1-800-743-3333.
