By Mary Margaret Turner
A Look at Why Holmes Community College Is a Great College Choice
Christina Bracey of Ridgeland is just one of the many students at Holmes who has been able to receive a top-notch education for a minimal cost, thanks to the plentiful scholarships available. Like countless other students at Holmes, she received free tuition through the Dean’s ACT Scholarship, awarded to those with a composite score of 20-23. For students with an ACT score in the 24-27 range, the President’s ACT Scholarship is awarded, paying for half of all tuition, room, and board (if applicable), and with a 28, the Board of Trustees Scholarship is awarded, covering tuition, room, and board (if applicable) in full.
Serving nine district counties through locations in Ridgeland, Goodman, Grenada and Kosciusko, Holmes seeks to meet the needs of all 6,316 of its students by offering something for everyone. Holmes provides quality, yet affordable, education programs to students of all ages and walks of life with programs in several formats including face-to-face day and evening classes, online and hybrid coursework, and dual-enrollment for high school students seeking to get ahead. Holmes also offers full-service GED preparation and testing centers at multiple sites.
Holmes helps students discover the right path for their individual needs and gain the knowledge and experience needed to excel. One of the benefits of attending Holmes is the financial advantage. In addition to the ACT scholarships, students can apply for a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work Study Scholarship, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity, or apply for the Federal Direct Loan Program. In-state residents can also apply for Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) or Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG), and residents of Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Montgomery, or other Webster counties can apply for the Sumners Grant.
Holmes also offers valedictorian/salutatorian scholarships and a number of endowment and patronage scholarships through the Development Foundation that can be awarded to students majoring in specific disciplines.
In addition to low costs, a benefit of Holmes is the close-knit community. Whether it is in small classes (16:1 student to faculty ratio) or in one-on-one academic advising, Holmes faculty always make students their top priority. Providing the foundation for a good career is only a part of a Holmes education; the staff is engaged in the lives of their students, encouraging them to get involved. With more than 50 academic majors, approximately 30 career/technical programs, more than 50 extracurricular activities, and 10 athletic teams, the possibilities are limitless.
The extracurricular programs provide gateways to scholarships, as well. For those seeking immediate entry into the workforce, Holmes offers Career/Technical programs. Programs such as cosmetology, engineering technology, nursing, surgical technology, and many others are available in both one- and two-year formats.
For more information, call 1-800-HOLMES-4 or visit www.holmes.edu.
Mary Margaret Turner is the public relations specialist for the Ridgeland Campus of Holmes Community College. She can be reached at mturner@holmescc.edu.
