19 August OnlineU selects ICC as 2024 Best Online Community College in Mississippi for affordability August 19, 2024 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College has been selected the 2024 Best Online Community College in Mississippi for affordability by OnlineU. “Mississippi offers many online degrees through its network of online community colleges,” said representatives of OnlineU. “These online degrees combine convenience with strong academic standards while maintaining low tuition costs for budget-minded students.” ICC takes the top spot for its affordability with an annual tuition of $2,750, placing it among the most cost-effective schools in the country, according to OnlineU. Additional highlights of its selection of ICC included 99 percent of students receive financial aid support through federal loans or grants and a support system that helps in managing educational expenses effectively. Adding to its appeal, ICC enrolls over 1,323 online students, which is within the top 31 percent of schools offering popular online programs. “We are honored to be recognized by OnlineU as we strive each semester to teach our students the most relevant skills and provide the foundational knowledge that they will need to be successful as they either continue their educational journey or to enter the workforce,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “While we strive to always provide the best educational product and experience at the lowest price possible, it’s always exciting for others to recognize the value! Being selected as the best for affordability by OnlineU is an example of how we at ICC are creating quality pathways and the best start for our students to meet them where they are and to help them get to where they want to go cost-effectively.” ICC offers a wide array of online degrees in fields such as Business and Marketing Management, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Health Information Technology, Hospitality Management, Paralegal Studies and Public Health Technology. Since 2004, it has been the mission of OnlineU to help students accomplish their education and career goals by finding the online degree with the best value. According to its website, it publishes rankings across hundreds of online degree programs, has collected reviews from more than 15,000 online students and publishes comprehensive guides and news articles to help students find the best degree for their aspirations. Their manual research on thousands of online degrees each year yields accurate, detailed cost and salary information of alumni of the colleges. OnlineU has been recognized by more than 475 colleges as a leader in higher education rankings. Related Articles Itawamba Community College receives $100,000 and joins 41 other schools across the US as All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative expands in year five Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Itawamba Community College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs, providing funding for students to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped ... BestColleges.com recognizes ICC as best in Mississippi and among nation's top 10 Itawamba Community College has been recognized as the best online community college in Mississippi and among the top 10 in the nation by BestColleges.com, a leading online resource for college planning and advice. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected the best in the state and among the best in the nation by BestColleges.com,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “Exceptional recognitions such as this are indications of the success of the College, its continuing status as a premier community college and a testament to our exceptional faculty and staff, without whom it would not be possible. Success breeds success, and our students and alumni are proof that the BEST start here.” This year, BestColleges.com revised its approach to school rankings, focusing on the most important factors that students consider in their college-decision making process,” according to information from Nicholas Linden, senior communications manager. The metrics were taken directly from its College Choice and Admission survey, reflecting the top preferences and priorities of students from across the country. In the 2023 College Choice and ... Niche.com ranks ICC #1 Best Community College in Mississippi Itawamba Community College has been ranked the #1 Best Community College in Mississippi by niche.com. The Niche 2018 College Rankings are based on rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial and student life data from the United States Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. According to its website, more than half of all college-bound high school students use Niche to research colleges. It indicates that its rankings strive to reflect the entire college experience, from freshman year to life after college. In addition, in-depth profiles on each college are included. “Itawamba Community College’s selection as #1 Best Community College in Mississippi by niche.com is indicative of its success, its status as a premier community college in the state and beyond and a testament to an exceptional faculty and staff,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. Niche.com also ranked ICC as #24 of 851 Best Community Colleges in America. For the Eighth Time, ICC Recognized Nationally by Aspen Institute as a Top U.S. Community College The Aspen Institute has named Itawamba Community College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. The 200 colleges were selected based on their student outcomes data, including retention, completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment rates. Started in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize. ICC is one of only four Mississippi community colleges selected this year, and the smallest of the four, to be named as eligible to compete for this prestigious recognition. “Being named among the top 200 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute is both an honor and a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Jay Allen, president of Itawamba Community College. “This recognition affirms the excellence of our work and affords us the opportunity to compete for the Aspen Prize, one of the highest distinctions in higher education. It’s a reflection of who we are at ICC: a community committed to student success ... WalletHub ranks ICC Best Community College in Mississippi for 2018 Itawamba Community College has been ranked the Best Community College in Mississippi for 2018 by WalletHub. In order to determine the best community colleges in the nation, WalletHub selected a sample of 715 schools from the list of member institutions in the American Association of Community Colleges. The schools were evaluated on the basis of cost and financing as well as both education and career outcomes. According to WalletHub, “Community colleges offer students the ability to get higher education without having as much financial strain. During the 2017-18 academic year, tuition and fees for full-time, in-state enrollment at a public two-year college averaged $3,750 per year.” ICC’s yearly tuition and fees are $3,160. In addition, WalletHub notes that other than serving as affordable, “community colleges often provide more flexible schedules, smaller class sizes and rigorous coursework…These qualities appeal especially to students who need to balance their studies with other commitments, such as family and work.” “Providing affordable and accessible education is a significant component of Itawamba Community College’s mission,” said ICC President Dr. ... Steele, Kinard selected for Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy Itawamba Community College’s Rachel Steele of Fulton and Dr. Ira Lindsay Kinard of Houston have been selected as participants in the 2025-26 Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy. Steele, who has been a member of the ICC family since 2019, serves as the director of Admissions and registrar. Her previous roles at ICC include instructional support services coordinator and academic mentor. Steele earned the Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel from Arkansas Tech University in 2013 and the Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies from Central Baptist College in 2011. Her honors include ICC Leadership Development Institute (2024-25). She and her husband, Jake, have two children and are active members of Grace Bible Church of Fulton. Dr. Kinard, a mathematics instructor at ICC, began her tenure at the College in 2008. Her previous service includes advisor for the Beta Tau Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Mississippi State University in 2018, the Master of Education degree from the University of Mississippi in 2008, the Bachelor of Arts in Education ... Comments are closed.