College Now Greater Clevland

Adult

Programs & Services

College Now has a team of advisors specially trained to meet the needs of another important group, adults. Adults pursuing higher education face a unique set of obstacles, and College Now can provide guidance on educational options, financial aid counseling as well as counseling about existing student debt and repayment options. College Now provides a variety of services to adults ages 19 and older for free in its downtown Resource Center (located on Level 3 of Tower City Center) and in other Greater Cleveland community settings. College Now also provides services to adults in Summit County at the Barberton Public Library.

Educational Pathways to Careers

At College Now, advisors are uniquely trained to match individuals of all ages and levels of experience with the educational pathways in wealth-creating occupations. This is not a “one size fits all” approach. For some the educational pathway might be a four-year degree in accounting; for others, a two-year nursing degree; and still for others, an 18-month welding apprenticeship.

College Now advisors meet students where they are, assess their education and career experience and goals, and match them with the opportunities that are their best fit.

College and Career Access Advising

College Now advisors provide guidance and resources to adults to prepare for and explore postsecondary educational opportunities, including two-year, four-year degrees and certificate programs.

With the help of College Now advisors, students develop a college and career plan by:

  • determining skills and interests
  • exploring career fields and coinciding academic programs
  • navigating the admissions process, and
  • registering for required tests
Financial Aid Counseling

College Now offers advising in our Resource Center and at community venues on student financial aid, including:

  • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid – required for nearly all forms of aid) completion, federal, state, institutional and private grants, loans and scholarships
  • solving burdensome financial issues and counseling individuals on the best resolution based on their unique circumstances
  • resolving existing student loan issues such as default recovery/loan rehabilitation, deferment, forbearance, consolidation, income-based repayment and loan forgiveness
  • The advisors focus on helping students achieve a goal of securing maximum financial aid with minimal loan debt.

To meet with an advisor in Greater Cleveland, call the College Now Resource Center
216.635.0151 or email resourcecenter@collegenowgc.org

To meet with an advisor in Summit County, call the College Now office at the Barberton Public Library at 330.319.2491.

Scholarship and Retention Services

College Now offers renewable scholarships and retention services that are critical for first-generation students and students from low-income backgrounds to access and complete a postsecondary credential. In 2014-2015, 150 adults received nearly $280,000 in renewable College Now scholarships that averaged $1,950 per student. College Now’s adult learner scholarship recipients graduate at significantly higher rates (64 percent in 2014) (NSC, 2015) than the national average of all low-income graduates (9 percent) (The Pell Institute, 2015).

The Adult Learner Scholarship has a rolling application and is open to adults 19 and over who have discontinued their education for more than one year and are residents of the following Northeast Ohio Counties: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit or Trumbull. Applicants must qualify for the Federal Pell Grant and plan to take at least six credit hours at a public or private not-for profit institution.

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Student Loan Debt Counseling

Student loan debt has risen nationally to over $1 trillion. Of the Ohioans earning degrees in 2013, 68% carry student loan debt, with the average borrower owing $29,000. Students that have defaulted on student loans are unable to apply for financial aid which makes going back to school nearly impossible.

College Now provides loan rehabilitation counseling on repayment and consolidation options for students in default, often getting their status changed out of default. In addition, College Now provides loan consolidation, loan restructuring and loan forgiveness counseling for loans in good standing.

For Greater Cleveland residents, find more information by calling the Resource Center at
216.635.0151 or emailing resourcecenter@collegenowgc.org.

For Summit County residents, find more information by calling the College Now office at the Barberton Public Library at 330.319.2491.

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