Free college education? Yes, right here at Bladen Community College if eligible

DUBLIN — Free tuition? Right here at Bladen Community College?

That is possible, college leaders want members of the community to know.

As the campus here gets ready for Tuesday and Wednesday — assistance is offered those days for those interested in getting started for the Aug. 16 first day of fall classes — the opportunity for free education is available through the North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant.

This grant is for 2021 high school graduates, and covers tuition and fees at any of the state’s 58 community colleges. It is not a loan.

Full-time eligible students are guaranteed to receive between $700 and $2,800 each year for two years; less than full-time students are eligible for a partial award.

There are requirements, which are spelled out at the nccommunitycolleges.edu website. Among them worth knowing is eligibility is tied to first-time students, and that includes those who have come through the Career & College Promise program while in high school.

There is not a grant application for this award, but students must apply for admission to the college, and must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid that is commonly known as FAFSA.

The assistance time at the college each day Tuesday and Wednesday is 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. More information is available by calling 910-879-8854, or emailing [email protected], or by going to the college website at bladencc.edu.