Jacksonville Promise scholarship recipients feel the program is very beneficial, reduced their financial stress, supports educational access and student retention, and helped them stay in the Morgan County area, according to a recent survey.
Of the 63 current and former scholarship recipients who participated in the survey, 97% rated their Jacksonville Promise scholarship either a 4 or a 5 on a 5-point scale of overall benefit.
Some 70% said the scholarship reduced their financial stress either “extremely” or “significantly.”
Respondents also rated their likelihood of attending college without the scholarship at an average of 3.81 on a 5-point scale, with their average likelihood of attending a Jacksonville college, specifically, at 3.13.
Of those who participated in the survey 81% currently live in Morgan County.
“The results confirm that Jacksonville Promise is accomplishing what it was created to do,” board chairman Dr. Charles Sheaff said. “By encouraging students to stay locally for their education, we are adding five new jobs to the local economy every year. It does this by making higher education more affordable, helping local students pursue degrees and credentials and strengthening their connection to the community.”
Jacksonville Promise is a local nonprofit organization that provides up to four years of scholarship assistance to graduates of all high schools in Morgan County who enroll in Illinois College or Lincoln Land Community College. Scholarships now are worth up to $3,000 for each of the first two years of college and $4,200 for the third and fourth years of college. Funding is supported through contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations and community organizations.