ANOKA, MINN. - Minnesota led the nation when it started a program to allow high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college courses for free. The state leads the way again now that high school sophomores will be able to attend technical college courses in the fall.
"As long as programs are not filled to capacity with students who are degree seeking, then they'll be able to get in," explained Anoka Technical College's LeAnn Brown.
Additionally, students who are interested must have passed their 8th grade Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment in reading.
Any interested sophomores should apply as soon as possible, as many technical colleges are already in the process of taking applications for fall.
Unlike the initial program for juniors and seniors, sophomores are only allowed to take technical courses, which do not include general education classes.
"For the students who are ready and interested in doing this, they'll be able to save a great deal of money," Brown said.
For example, Anoka Technical College charges $187.79 per credit. The school offers a seven credit machine technology course, which would normally cost $1,168.93. If a sophomore is able to enroll, it would cost them nothing; the tuition is all paid by taxpayers through the state of Minnesota.
Sophomores must earn a C or better in that first class in order to move on and take more classes.
Brown said it's entirely possible for a student to graduate from high school at the same time they graduate from a technical college without having to pay a dime, saving the student thousands of dollars.
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