Sinclair among most affordable two-year colleges

Sinclair Community College is ranked among the top 5 percent of 1,000 two-year institutions in the United States for affordability.

The downtown Dayton-based school is the 21st most affordable school in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s 2019 College Affordability and Transparency List.

“At a time when college costs are increasing, Sinclair is as an extremely affordable and high-quality option for students,” said Steve Johnson, president of Sinclair College. “We realize that a college education is one of the most important decisions a student makes for the rest of their lives and that is why we continue to pursue affordable career pathways for students. We have an obligation to help every student complete a credential so that they can get a meaningful job, change their lives for the better, and make a difference for their community.”

About 71 percent of students receive a grant or aid at Sinclair, making the net price of a year of education there about $2,902, according to the Department of Education.

Sinclair has worked over the last several years to lower costs of in-demand careers through grant-funded initiatives like the Skills to Work program through the Ohio Department of Higher Education, according to a statement from the college. The program offers tuition help to students in short-term certificate programs.

“Sinclair was recognized nationally as number one in the nation to provide workbased learning programs,” Johnson said. “We offer over 110 short-term certificate programs that students can complete in less than a year and we have worked directly with employers to develop these pathways. Many of these certificate programs have helped students who have wanted to spend less time in school and more time gaining real-life work experience.”

Sinclair is also transitioning to an online bookstore to further improve affordability. The move is expected to save students 20 to 30 percent in textbook costs.