Planning for college or training this year? Apply for the Vermont Grant and explore VSAC’s free scholarship booklet to help you cover costs.
Explore Your Future for Free with CCV and 802Opportunity
The New Year gives us a chance to reflect upon what we love about our lives, and perhaps, what we would like to change. 802Opportunity, an education access program administered by VSAC in partnership with the Community College of Vermont (CCV), is a powerful tool available to Vermonters who are seeking something new.
Students participating in 802Opportunity receive up to two years of free tuition to the Community College of Vermont (CCV). Any Vermonter with a family Adjusted Gross Income of $75,000 or less per year, who does not already have a bachelor’s degree, can qualify for free tuition—which, according to the latest Census, is about half of all Vermont families.
Thousands of students, who may have otherwise been discouraged by the cost of education or training, have walked through CCV’s open doors. For example, Alex Tupper, who grew up in the Brattleboro area and experienced bouts of homelessness as a child, always saw college as her way out of extreme poverty, but she wasn’t sure how she could afford to go to college. Receiving 802Opportunity and being able to enroll at CCV “has helped me feel secure and optimistic about my future,” she says. She expects to graduate soon with an associate degree in behavioral science, which will support her rising career at a disability services agency.
What does your future look like? With 802Opportunity, you’ll find the space to figure it out.
When most people think about community college, they think about a traditional two-year associate degree. At CCV, you could earn an associate degree in fields related to art & design, business, education, healthcare, human services, information technology, liberal studies, manufacturing, and STEM.
You may be surprised to find out that CCV courses can also lead to digital badges, credentials, and certificates, via flexible pathways where credits add up while working toward a degree. And, after earning an associate degree, nearly half of all CCV graduates choose to continue their education: CCV makes it easy with ready-to-use transfer agreements with schools like the University of Vermont, and within the Vermont State University system. So if you have some college credits but haven't completed your degree, now is the perfect time to finish what you started, tuition-free.
CCV’s stackable credits unlock a world of opportunity (802Opportunity, that is!) to try new things. Love kids but not sure if teaching is for you? Take classes to earn a certificate in After School and Youth Work. Are you everyone’s go-to when they are having internet or computer issues? Try out a credential in Cybersecurity or a certificate in IT Support before you decide to go for a full associate degree in Information Technology.
What subject would you like to try before you jump in?
Flexible programming makes it even easier to pursue your dreams
Most people need a regular paycheck so they can keep paying their bills while taking classes. Even if you aren’t currently employed, chances are you have commitments that fill (or overfill) your life. When you leverage 802Opportunity at CCV, not only is your tuition free, but the program’s flexibility also makes education manageable so you can otherwise live your life.
Classes at CCV are offered in person or online, part-time or full-time, during the day or in the evening. Flexible programming makes it easier to:
- Work and stay out of debt.
- Upskill at your current job with an eye toward a new role or promotion.
- Be present for your children or family while preparing for future employment or keeping your skills current.
For instance, Business programs at CCV include three degrees (Accounting, Business and Professional Studies) and six certificates (Bookkeeping, Digital Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Funeral Director, Human Resources Management, and Leadership Skills) that can be completed 100% online.
CCV and 802Opportunity make it easy to discover a new journey, whatever your path. During the last two academic years, the program drew more than 2,600 students each year, from all 14 counties in the state. Students ranged in age from 17 to 79, and nearly three-quarters of participants were first-generation, meaning they are the first in their families to go to college. This year more than 379 people completed a degree or credential. Students leveraging 802Opportunity are also more than twice as likely as other CCV students to graduate within four years, and they graduated from CCV and moved on to another learning institution at a higher rate (15.6%) than other CCV students (9.2%).
John LaLonde is one student who says his CCV coursework is doing double duty, helping him reskill for his true passion—education—while also equipping him to start his own side business, utilizing his many years of experience in the pest control industry before he went to work in the classroom. “My goal is to utilize 802Opportunity now and in the future to further myself in the fields of business and education,” he says. “I’m really grateful for being able to do that.”
How will you know that making this change will make a difference in your life?
Education is the greatest equalizer when it comes to economic opportunity. Studies show the high-demand, high-pay jobs in Vermont require college or training, and education is the key to, well … nearly everything. An associate degree, certificate, or credential from CCV can provide the knowledge and skills you’ll need to pursue a higher-paying job, advance in the job you have, or build a foundation for further study. Students can choose from more than 30 flexible programs in highly sought-after career fields at CCV.
Will Homer, a self-employed handyman living in Milton, has worked as a line cook, a framer, and a cabinet installer, and was searching for a new career. He’s grateful to the 802Opportunity program for “opening a wide horizon for my future and helping me solidify my goals.” The courses he’s taken at CCV have built upon college credits he completed about 10 years ago. Having discovered a latent love of psychology among the books and movies he enjoys, he hopes a college degree will open doors for him. After earning his associate degree in liberal studies from CCV, he hopes to go on to complete a bachelor’s in psychology, hopefully at the University of Vermont. “While I’m grateful for the skills I’ve gained in the trades, I look forward to the potential for a career beyond cooking and building,” he says.
Connecting with a mentor or someone who is working in the field can help you understand the possibilities of how a degree translates to real world work. For instance:
- An Early Childhood Education associate of arts degree helps students develop knowledge, skills, and experience to work effectively with young children and families.
- An Information Technology associate of science degree prepares students to provide support to systems and troubleshoot issues encountered by users.
- A Pharmacy Technician certificate prepares students to locate, dispense, pack, and label prescribed medication under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
- A Workplace Skills certificate provides students with the skills necessary to be successful in today's workplace: good communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision making.
802Opportunity is here because Vermont has decided to invest in you
Funding for 802Opportunity was first approved by the Vermont Legislature and Governor Scott in 2021. Recognizing the success of the program, the Legislature and Governor Scott included 802Opportunity in the state’s base budget two years ago, providing permanent funding for the program.
Why does Vermont want to invest in 802Opportunity? Because offering opportunities to raise skills and lower debt for all Vermonters is critical to making our state more affordable, and cultivating Vermont’s workforce is foundational to the future of all Vermonters. “Investing in education creates huge dividends for Vermont families and for the Vermont economy. Vermonters can count on this successful and life-changing opportunity to train and educate themselves for high-demand and high-wage jobs,” notes Scott Giles, VSAC President & CEO.
Vermont is investing in Vermonters’ dreams, as well as their lives. Geneva Horster, who works as an early childhood educator, says 802Opportunity “saved me.” Her family was unable to provide financial support for college tuition. When the scholarships she worked hard to secure didn’t go far enough toward covering the cost, the Thetford native wasn’t sure she’d be able to continue her education beyond high school—a requirement for her field of choice.
When she found out, “completely unexpectedly,” that she qualified for 802Opportunity, she was able to earn her degree and go to school full-time, allowing her to finish college earlier than expected and get a head start on her “dream job.” In the end, her education took her much further than she ever expected; she’s now living abroad and working at a bilingual kindergarten in Munich, Germany, where she has family ties.
802Opportunity exists because great jobs with Vermont employers are waiting. For you.
Ready to invest in yourself? Classes start January 21, 2025
We hope you’re ready to invest in your future because Vermont is ready to invest in you! CCV spring semester 2025 class registration is open now, and 802Opportunity is available now for the Spring 2025 semester. Classes begin on January 21, 2025.
Start by applying for 802Opportunity. The program, in combination with state and federal grant aid, covers tuition for all credits in a degree program of the student’s choice, as well as the $100 administrative fee. 802Opportunity does not cover lab and studio fees, books, or other supplies. You can explore all CCV associate, credential, and certificate programs here.
For more information on 802Opportunity and how to apply, visit vsac.org/802Opportunity. You can also give us a call at 800-642-3177, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and contact us online at info@vsac.org.
Learn more about 802Opportunity