MUSCLE SHOALS & PHIL CAMPBELL, Alabama – Northwest-Shoals Community College has announced a new round of CARES Act funding that will be paid to eligible students, reducing tuition fees by at least half for the fall semester .

College President Glenda Colagross said it was a great way to take some of the financial stress out of those looking to continue their education.

“We will examine each student individually; Once they register for the course, they will receive an email or phone call and they can come in and complete an application for CARES money, ”said Colagross.

Colagross said the college is not only using CARES law funds, but all available scholarship funds to help students as much as possible for the upcoming semester.

Students applying for funding must qualify by answering a short essay question explaining how the pandemic has affected them.

Colagross said this was not Northwest-Shoals’ first funding award, but it was the largest. The college has now received approximately $ 6 million.

“We received our first allocation last spring when we were closed during the pandemic for the first time,” Colagross continued.

About 46% of students affected by the pandemic received funding in the spring of 2020, and in the fall of 2020, eligible students were able to receive $ 600 off their tuition fees.

After seeing a drop in enrollment over the past year, Colagross has a tip for those hesitant to go to college.

“A lot of times students think they can’t afford college and if you tell us there are ways and money, different kinds of money available to help students complete an education. that they might not even know without all of it, ”Colagross concluded.

The fall semester begins August 19. To find out more or start the registration process, Click here.