Enter to Win a $500 SJC “15 to Finish Scholarship”

• Commit to earning your degree and stick to your plan. Earning 15 credits may not be easy, but it will give you the advantage of graduating on time. Meet with your advisor. They will help you develop a plan to take the courses you need to earn your degree on time.
• Make school a priority. Life can sometimes get in the way. Utilize the many support services on campus that can help you overcome barriers that may prevent you from graduating on time. Not everyone has this option, however; if you area able to work part-time instead of full-time to complete your degree, the payoff in the end will be worth it.
• Take your general education courses during your first year of college. Students who take 15 credits per semester and complete their English and Math courses early are more likely to graduate on time.
• Fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The application is used by nearly all colleges and universities to determine eligibility for federal, state and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, education loans, and work-study programs. You may be eligible for grants and financial aid that will not need to be paid back.
• Check with the San Juan College Foundation for available scholarships. Having financial assistance will allow you more time to devote to your studies, work fewer hours and finish college faster.

• You are more likely to graduate on time and get better grades if you’re a full-time student earning 15 credits per semester.
• By taking 15 credits each semester, you will finish college faster, and can begin earning a higher income.
• On average, those with an associate's degree in New Mexico, earn $10,000 more per year than those with no degree. By finishing your degree earlier, you have the opportunity to make more money over the span of your career.
• Graduating earlier also reduces your debt, which can make a big difference in the amount of money you spend on your education.

Of course, not everyone can take 15 credits per semester. However, increasing your class load by any amount will make a difference. For instance, if you are taking six credits each semester, consider taking just one more class. Taking nine credits instead of six will help you to achieve your goal even faster. Taking just one more class can make a BIG difference!

Most students enter college thinking they will graduate on time.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. Taking longer to graduate costs you additional time and money in tuition, books, supplies and other expenses, and delays your ability to begin earning an income.