Columbus State Community College renews Columbus Promise program

Columbus State Community College recently announced the renewal of its Columbus Promise program, which provides free tuition to students who graduate from Columbus City Schools. The program has been renewed for at least three more years, following the successful pilot program. Funding for the next three years will come via a combination of public and private funding, including $10 million from the City of Columbus.

According to an article on the Columbus State Community College website, Dr. David Harrison, the college’s president, was quoted as saying of the program’s renewal, “The Columbus Promise is creating transformational gains for our students, their families, and our entire community. The continued commitment of the Promise partners and the remarkable philanthropic support of regional employers show an investment in Promise has a powerful return on investment for our Scholars, the central Ohio workforce, and our community at large.”

The Columbus Promise program has been made possible through collaboration with the City of Columbus and the organization I Know I Can, in addition to financial support from a number of organizations like Cardinal Health Foundation, Installed Building Products, Edwards Companies, and IGS Energy, which is also going to provide paid internships for students involved in the Columbus Promise program. 

Dr. Angela Chapman, who serves as the superintendent and CEO of Columbus City Schools, said of the program, “The Columbus Promise continues to be a transformative opportunity for our students, breaking down barriers to higher education and opening doors to brighter futures. As we launch Phase 2 of this groundbreaking program, I am proud to see our community unite, investing in our Scholars' success.”

Students who qualify for the Columbus Promise program will be provided with free tuition and covered fees for up to three academic years at Columbus State Community College, which will allow students to attend part-time if they choose and still finish an associate degree or certificate program. Students will receive a $500 stipend each semester. In addition to the funding, the program also provides academic and career support services.

The pilot program proved to be successful, with the number of college-bound graduates of Columbus City Schools increasing from 32% to 50% after the implementation of the Columbus Promise in 2022. So far, as of the Fall 2024 semester, 42 Columbus Promise participants have earned an associate degree and 120 have earned a certificate. With this announced renewal, graduates of Columbus City Schools through the Class of 2027 can take advantage of the program.

For more information about Columbus State Community College, visit the school’s website.