Agreement gives Mohave students affordable, convenient path to a bachelor’s degree

Haeger signing

Northern Arizona University and Mohave Community College signed a new agreement last week that will ease the path toward earning a bachelor’s degree in Mohave County.

The new MCC2NAU agreement opens doors for students to choose bachelor’s degree paths from all of NAU’s 87 bachelor’s degree programs. The new offerings are based on NAU’s successful 20-year partnership with Mohave Community College.

The program begins in the fall and is distinguished by its tailored, intensive advising with shared expertise from MCC and NAU.  While students are completing work at MCC, they also will have access to NAU’s library and other online resources.MCC2NAU offers a seamless transition for students at MCC in Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu City and the North Mohave campus in Colorado City to continue their education toward an NAU bachelor’s degree after completing their associate’s degree.

Participating students are jointly admitted to both MCC and NAU and have the option of completing their NAU bachelor’s degree locally, online or at the NAU Flagstaff campus, depending on the degree.

Further, MCC2NAU students will be saving money by paying community college tuition for their first years in the program while working on their associate’s degree.

“Programs like our new partnership with Mohave Community College are helping to streamline bachelor’s degree completion,” said NAU President John Haeger. “This agreement links our two institutions to such a degree that it allows students to remain focused on their ultimate goal of earning a bachelor’s degree.”

A number of NAU programs now accept up to 90 hours of MCC course credit toward the bachelor’s degree.

Participating MCC freshmen have an added incentive of up to $4,000 in NAU scholarships if they maintain a 3.5 GPA and complete their associate’s degree at MCC.

“The new MCC2NAU agreement strengthens a 20-year partnership that brings a university degree within easy grasp of Mohave County residents and can save them more than $12,000 in tuition and fees alone,” said MCC President Michael Kearns. “It’s one more step toward the nationwide push and President Obama’s goal of having the world’s largest share of college graduates by 2020.”

Haeger agreed, adding that NAU is pleased to be a partner in strengthening higher education and economic development in Mohave County.