Brighter Future: How to go to college for free

For many, paying for college can be an obstacle to furthering their education. Now, through Blue Ridge Community College, students have access to more financial aid opportunities than ever before — including free college for the 2022-2023 school year.   

Brighter Future scholarships  

Blue Ridge was fortunate to receive an anonymous $2 million donation for student financial needs. This generous contribution, combined with Federal Pell Grants, state grants and Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation scholarships, make it possible for Blue Ridge to extend free college through the spring of 2023 

The Brighter Future Scholarships cover tuition, fees and books for full-time and part-time workforce credential programs and curriculum programs.  

The benefits of free college  

Some students have had to make difficult decisions in the past, trying to decide what resources their family could do without to make the financial sacrifice to attend college. Now, students don’t have to make those decisions. Free college helps us remove the financial barrier students have historically faced.  

Offering these scholarships helps students turn their dream of furthering their education into a reality. Increasing the number of students who are able to attend college and complete a credential or degree helps the workforce in our community and helps increase earning wages for our students. 

Free college also helps close the educational attainment gap in North Carolina, which is a myFutureNC goal.    

Now is an excellent time to enroll  

Free college removes the financial barrier to attending college. Now, students simply need to focus on the time commitment. With flexible course offerings, we can accommodate almost any schedule. 

If you’ve been thinking about a career change, learning a new trade or going to college for the first time, now is the time to act. Blue Ridge has flexible class offerings to fit the busy schedules of adult learners and traditional college students. We offer quality instruction in high-demand programs that lead to workforce credentials or a college degree.   

Registration is happening now  

Registration for fall classes is open May 31 through August 11. For more information about how to receive free college or to speak with someone about enrolling, call 828-694-1800. To learn more about Blue Ridge Community College, visit www.blueridge.edu.  

Kirsten Bunch is vice president for student services at Blue Ridge Community College