Op-Ed: Debt-free college is closer than Mississippi families think

By: Dr. Andrew Dale

December can be decision season for Mississippi families. As students receive semester grades and begin planning for life after graduation, one question rises to the top: How do we afford college without a lifetime of student debt?

The answer is clear. Mississippi's community colleges offer the lowest tuition in the state, with an open-access mission that welcomes every learner, and an academic environment designed for student success. For thousands of families each year, beginning at a community college is the smartest, most affordable, and often most effective path to a degree.

Debt-free makes all the difference

As university costs continue to climb, community college students complete their first two years for a fraction of the price - sometimes completely debt-free through federal Pell Grant aid, scholarships and local support. (in my time as a band director - many of my students saw scholarships that paid them to attend). Students take the same freshman and sophomore courses required at universities, but at dramatically lower cost. And unlike many introductory courses at large universities, community college classes are not taught by graduate assistants. They're taught by seasoned, credentialed faculty whose primary responsibility is teaching, mentoring and supporting students.

Class sizes are smaller. Instructors know their students by name. And instead of being one face in a crowded lecture hall, students receive personal attention and immediate feedback. That environment builds confidence, strengthens study habits and helps students master foundational coursework long before they transfer to a university.

Community colleges don't just reduce the cost of education - they improve the quality of a student's early academic experience.

And for many Mississippi students, the smartest move is not only where they start, but what they choose to study. Career and technical programs such as welding, health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology and transportation often lead to industry-recognized credentials in one to two years instead of four. These programs are eligible for the same federal Pell Grant dollars that can make tuition effectively debt-free, and graduates frequently step into high-demand jobs that pay well above typical entry-level wages. For students who want to work sooner, avoid long-term debt and still earn a strong income, career and technical education is one of Mississippi's most powerful - and most underappreciated - options.

And for students who show up, do the work and excel, the savings get even better.

PTK scholarships: A near-secret pathway to a debt-free bachelor's degree

One of the most overlooked advantages of starting at a community college is the opportunity to join Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year institutions. Membership is straightforward: go to class and read your textbook (that's the formula to make A's, taught to me by my high school college algebra teacher, Coach Joe Campbell). Students who have a 3.5 cumulative GPA earn induction into PTK and unlock some of the most generous scholarship opportunities available in Mississippi higher education.

At several Mississippi universities, PTK transfer scholarships cover up to 96% of tuition. These are life-changing awards that many families don't even realize exist. A student who begins at a community college, saves thousands during their first two years and by earning PTK membership can transfer to a four-year university and complete their bachelor's degree with almost no tuition costs at all.

It is one of the best financial deals in American higher education. PTK is not exclusive or unattainable. Students don't need a perfect ACT score or expensive test prep. They just need commitment, discipline and community college instructors who support their success. "Go to class, and read your text book."

Where students build relationships with faculty

One of the greatest strengths of Mississippi's community colleges is the relationships students build with faculty. Community college instructors choose this work because they want to teach. They want to mentor. They want to help students become successful, not only academically but personally and professionally. Because class sizes are small, faculty can invest in each student's progress, goals and challenges. They notice when a student stops showing up. They celebrate when a student improves. They push when a student needs a nudge.

These relationships form a safety net that is difficult to replicate at large universities. They are often the difference between staying in college and dropping out.

We love our university partners - this is about starting smart

Community colleges in Mississippi celebrate their university partners. They prepare students to transfer there and depend on strong relationships across the higher education system. However, tuition, room and board for four or more years at a university can easily add up to a six-figure total for a bachelor's degree. Starting at a community college positions students better academically and financially for what comes next.

Why begin in a massive lecture hall when you can begin in a supportive environment where instructors are dedicated to your success? Why borrow thousands of dollars for the same classes you can take for a fraction of the cost? Why struggle through foundational courses when you can master them in smaller settings, then transfer as a stronger, more confident student?

Community colleges don't replace universities - they strengthen students before they arrive.

A December reminder for Mississippi families

As 2025 approaches, families shouldn't feel pressured into expensive choices. Community colleges offer affordability, quality, personal attention, fast-track career and technical programs and a clear path to PTK scholarships that make a bachelor's degree more attainable than ever.

If you have a senior in high school: 1) apply for student housing now - community colleges fill up fast; 2) submit college applications now; and 3) fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

Choosing a Mississippi community college isn't the cheaper option. It's the smarter option - and for many, the difference between a life shaped by debt and a future shaped by possibility. 

Dr. Andrew Dale is Associate Vice President of Community Relations at Northwest Mississippi Community College.