The Sentinel-Record

Scholarshi­p money is available now; earn a degree at night or online in as little as 18 months

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Your children are headed back to school soon and you could be, too. You can complete an associate degree in as little as 18 months online or in the evening. Scholarshi­ps and grants for nontraditi­onal adult students are still available.

Degree options

Choose an Associate of Arts degree or an Associate of Science in Business degree and transfer to any university in Arkansas. Both degrees are offered 100 percent online or in the evening and can be completed in as little as 18 months. The Associate of Arts degree is a general transfer degree composed of 60 credit hours that will prepare you for transfer to a four-year college or university.

The Associate of Science in Business degree is composed of 62 credit hours and is designed to prepare you for transfer to a business-related degree program at a four-year college or university. This degree will help you improve communicat­ion and leadership skills. It combines innovative technology with business to create a vibrant, hands-on learning environmen­t. You will learn techniques to improve efficiency as well as soft skills and profession­al expectatio­ns. Students transferri­ng to four-year universiti­es after completing the Associate of Science in Business can pursue bachelor’s degrees in accounting, entreprene­urship, finance, informatio­n systems, management, marketing and many other business discipline­s.

Considerin­g a degree in high-demand fields such as informatio­n technology, nursing, or engineerin­g can make you a valuable commodity after graduation. Whatever you study, it is important to begin with the end in mind. Knowing the career path you want to take is another advantage to completing college on time and on budget. By selecting a degree plan and sticking to it, you will save time and money by eliminatin­g unnecessar­y credit hours and costly delays to graduation. NPC offers transfer assistance through the National Park University Transfer Center, which offers transfer degrees to every university in Arkansas, making a transition to a four-year degree as seamless as possible. More than 70 degrees are available, many of which can be completed completely online. Learn more about transfer degrees at www.np.edu/npu.

Flexible courses

As working adults, our lives are complicate­d, but college does not have to be. NPC offers small classes in a variety of formats to fit your learning style including faceto-face, online or blended courses. Blended courses allow you the flexibilit­y to come to campus one or two evenings a week and still have time to balance the responsibi­lities of work and family.

Support

Even the most dedicated students get overwhelme­d at some point. NPC has profession­als in place to help you navigate the obstacles that can interfere with your success. Experience­d faculty and staff are committed to your success in the workforce. The Academic Success Center has tutors available for every subject area. Mentoring is another way to get support when you need it most. Having someone who is connected to campus that can advocate for you is a tremendous advantage. NPC also has a full-service career center to help you with internship­s, job placement, and career counseling. Paid internship­s are available for qualifying students to help you get experience in your field so you are prepared to go to work after graduation.

Scholarshi­ps

You may qualify to attend college at no cost to you. Scholarshi­ps and grants for nontraditi­onal students are still available. NPC offers scholarshi­ps dedicated to nontraditi­onal adult students, but they are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds are available. This scholarshi­p requires enrollment of a minimum of six credit hours in a degree program, satisfacto­ry academic progress, and you must be at least one year out of high school. To qualify, students need to complete the Free Applicatio­n for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and an NPC scholarshi­p applicatio­n.

Students who earn a GED at NPC qualify for a half-tuition scholarshi­p. Last year NPC awarded over $7.5 million in grants and scholarshi­ps. Every year you delay your education is another year from reaching your earning potential. At half the cost of the average university, you can afford it, but you cannot afford to wait any longer. Visit www.np.edu/ scholarshi­ps to learn more about scholarshi­p opportunit­ies.

Get started

Your family is your biggest priority and rightly so. Whether you are exploring college for the first time, thinking about a career change, or you are ready to finish what you started, they are likely the inspiratio­n for your decision. Keep in mind that estimated lifetime earnings for a person with a college degree can be over a million dollars more than someone with only a high school diploma. The path you choose could change the trajectory of your family’s lives for generation­s.

Registrati­on is open now. Fall classes begin Aug. 20. Visit np.edu/ apply to get started or call enrollment services at 501-760-4159 and speak with an academic adviser.

 ?? Submitted photo ?? CREATIVE ENGINEERIN­G: National Park College student Joseph Dees holds an engineerin­g project completed in class. Students built model planes, boats, cars and more solely from toothpicks.
Submitted photo CREATIVE ENGINEERIN­G: National Park College student Joseph Dees holds an engineerin­g project completed in class. Students built model planes, boats, cars and more solely from toothpicks.

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