Metropolitan Community College (MCC) in Omaha is continuing its free tuition for high school students through the 2024-2025 school year, but over a third of Central students are unaware of the opportunity. 

A recent survey conducted by The Register showed 63% of Central students had heard of the free classes with school as the main informant. 

Out of the 100 respondents, only 10 had taken advantage of the free class offerings. 

Raymone Sazone, a MCC dual enrollment navigator assigned to Central, said that students’ reasons for not pursuing classes at Metro include not being interested in dual enrollment or previous financial barriers.  

“My goal is to connect with these students to ensure they are aware that this funding waives the cost of tuition for any high school student enrolled in one of our credit programs,” Sazone said. 

The waived cost has been in effect since the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year after Metro received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, which allocated federal funding for pandemic relief. 

Programs including College Now, Kickstart Online, Career Academy and Gateway to College offer classes towards obtaining a vocational certificate, associate degree or bachelor’s degree. 

Classes at Metro teach skills such as culinary arts, automotive technology, plumbing, graphic design and sustainable energy technology. 

“Many of these credits are transferable to state colleges and other four-year institutions, both in state and beyond,” Sazone said. 

Students can discuss dual enrollment and transferability with their counselors or can meet with Sazone in the counseling office on Tuesdays. 

“I think it is a great idea for motivated students to earn college credits while in high school,” said Angela Meyer, Central’s post-secondary school counselor. 

Registration for classes can be done through Metro’s website: mccneb.edu. Registration for the summer semester begins March 29.  

Sophomore Arisa Lattison earned six credit hours of Biology last summer through Metro.  

“At first, I wasn’t super interested in the idea of taking extra classes, but I felt it would be nice to get college credits out of the way at no cost,” Lattison said. 

In the survey, the average level of interest in taking Metro classes was six out of 10, where 10 was “extremely interested” and one was “not interested.” 

“This is a benefit not only to the students but our community. Those students who thought college was not within their reach, have now been given hope and opportunity,” Sazone said.