MATC Promise for Adults student Jo Walston
Milwaukee Area Technical College reminds prospective students of quickly approaching deadlines for the MATC Promise for Adults, which provides free tuition for eligible students to complete an in-demand associate degree or technical diploma. The priority and summer session deadline is April 17. The final deadline is July 17. Individuals must complete an MATC application, Promise for Adults interest application, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
MATC offers two Promise programs -- the MATC Promise for New High School Graduates, launched in 2015, was the first Promise program in Wisconsin. The Promise for Adults was launched in 2018.
“MATC is proud to offer Promise programs that can help connect students to family-sustaining wages, uplift the community and help close the skills gap for area businesses,” said Dr. Vicki J. Martin, president of Milwaukee Area Technical College. “During this time of crisis with COVID-19, when workers are losing their jobs or facing cutbacks, we hope that the MATC Promise for Adults will help many individuals return to college to retrain for in demand careers or upgrade their skills to make them more employable.”
The college is offering virtual information sessions for the MATC Promise for Adults and all of its programs at http://www.matc.edu/visit/matc-live.html.
Students eligible for the MATC Promise for Adults must be 24 years old or older as of Dec 31, 2020; have earned at least six college credits but not an associate or bachelor's degree; have been out of college for at least two years; and live in the MATC District (all of Milwaukee County, most of Ozaukee County and the portions of Washington and Waukesha counties in the Germantown and West Allis-West Milwaukee school districts). Full eligibility criteria are listed at matc.edu/promise.
Together, MATC’s Promise programs have served more than 1,600 qualified students. To date, nearly 120 students have completed an associate degree, technical diploma or certificate through one of the MATC Promise programs.
The MATC Promise is funded through a unique public-private partnership model that brings together federal and state financial aid resources with private donations that provide student scholarships to fill the gap between what aid provides and the cost of tuition. To date, MATC has secured more than $2.6 million to fund Promise scholarships and more than 230 donors have contributed. Philanthropist and outgoing Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele is the program’s largest donor to date with more than $750,000 in personal contributions.
Interested students and community partners can email matcpromise@matc.edu or call 414-297-6668.
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.