Tuition Assistance Programs

The First Class program provides eligible students with an opportunity to take their first college credit course tuition free!*

*Tuition free is based on a course at three (3) credit hours. Eligible students will be financially responsible for hours exceeding three (3) credits. (See Course Offerings for credit hours.)

Eligibility Requirements

• Must not have any prior college credit coursework
• Present employer must be a current member of one of the following organizations: 
  
  African American Chamber of Commerce
  Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
  The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
  Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
  Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau

College Fees

To participate in the program, eligible students will be responsible for paying the following fees:

• Course fees (See Course Offerings listing for applicable fees.)
• Distance Education Course Fee (Online and hybrid courses only)
• New Student Processing Fee
• Non-Resident Capital Fee

For fee descriptions and amounts, please reference the College's Tuition and Fees listing.

How to Apply

1. Complete the online admissions application. Please allow 3-5 business days after completing your admissions application to receive your Student Identification Number (J#), which is issued by Community College of Philadelphia.

2. Schedule a Placement Test. Log into MyCCP, click the Student tab and access Enrollment Services. Click Schedule a Registration Event and access Schedule Placement Test.

3. Search for course offerings. After receiving your notice of acceptance to the College, access CourseFinder to obtain the five-digit course reference number (CRN) for intended course of registration. Prerequisites must be completed prior to enrollment in any course.

4. Complete and submit the First Class Program Application for processing. Log into MyCCP, click the Student tab and access Admissions Forms located in the Electronic Forms Channel. Complete and submit the First Class Program Application for processing.

For inquiries, please contact the Admissions Information Center or 215-751-8010.

Your Path to a Debt-Free Degree

Have you always dreamed of finishing your college degree, but lacked the financial resources? Do it now with a scholarship covering tuition and those fees that are unmet by financial aid.

My Degree Now Benefits

• Customized educational plan that helps you choose classes
• Tutoring, study group, counseling, career and job placement resources
• Progress assessments by staff who help keep you focused on goals
• Flexible course availability, with day, evening and online classes

My Degree Now Requirements

• Have 30 or more transferable college credits from an accredited college/university, yet not be enrolled within past two years, with no prior degree
• Not be in default of any prior educational loans
• Be a Philadelphia county resident
• Apply for admission by May 1 to My Degree Now here (PDF)
• Apply for FAFSA here. If you have questions, visit the Financial Aid page or call 215-751-8271
• Enroll at the College in consecutive fall and spring semesters, take a minimum 6 credits per semester and complete degree requirements in order to graduate within two to three years
• Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA while displaying good academic progress

Contact Us: Please email us at mydegreenow [at] ccp.edu (mydegreenow[at]ccp[dot]edu) or phone us at 215-751-8254.

A Tuition-free Program for Philadelphia Residents Who Have Been Recently Laid Off from Full-time Employment

Opportunity Now is a program designed to assist a displaced worker to enhance their skills to improve employment prospects through awarding up to 12 credits, tuition free, in one semester, one time only. Noncredit courses are not included in this tuition waiver program. You are required to pay all course fees, and costs for textbooks and supplies.

To be considered for the Opportunity Now program, you must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be eligible to receive the Pell Grant. Financial aid grant dollars received will be applied; the College will provide financial support for tuition and fees unmet by grants. Applicants are required to pay all course fees and costs for textbooks and supplies, if they are not covered by financial aid.

Future layoffs will not qualify you for participation in the program an additional time. If you become employed full time prior to the start of the semester, you must notify the Opportunity Now program coordinator as you will no longer be eligible for this program.

Eligibility Requirements

All College policies apply. Applications that are incomplete or missing documents will not be considered. All applicants must:

• Be a resident of Philadelphia and a U.S. citizen or resident alien. Philadelphia residents are defined as adults who have lived in Philadelphia for at least 12 months if they moved to Philadelphia from another state, or three months if they moved from another location in Pennsylvania. Documentation may be required.
• Have been laid off permanently or indefinitely from a full-time, non-seasonal, non-contract position through no fault of their own, but due to a company layoff or reduction in workforce due to economic circumstances. Applicants who are considered temporary, seasonal, staffing agency placements or employed in limited or fixed term contracts are not eligible.
• Have been employed at the company for a minimum of 12 continuous months, and have been laid off within the past 12 months
• Present:
  1. A letter from the former employer on official company stationery stating the layoff date and clarifying the applicant lost a qualifying job through no fault of his or her own, but due to a company layoff or reduction in workforce due to economic circumstances; and
  2. A copy a recent regular pay statement indicating full time hours. Pennsylvania Department of Labor unemployment documentation will not be considered an acceptable substitute for the required documentation.

An approved applicant is eligible for a tuition waiver for up to 12 credits for one semester, one time only, excluding noncredit courses. Once an approved Opportunity Now student registers, they assume all financial responsibility for fees and other expenses related to the classes unless they officially withdraw from classes and notify the Opportunity Now program coordinator in writing prior to the first business day before the semester begins. Failure to attend does not constitute withdrawal.

Eligibility for the Opportunity Now program requires that you must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition to completion of the FAFSA, you must also be sure to have submitted all documents requested by the Office of Financial Aid, including documents that may be requested for financial aid verification.Please consult with a Financial Aid Specialist at financialaid [at] ccp.edu (financialaid[at]ccp[dot]edu), should you have questions.

If you are not a current student, you must first follow the regular admissions, advising and registration process. Once you are accepted to the College you may apply for Opportunity Now.

Summer (May/July) – Application must be complete by May 1 (both sessions count as a single semester)
Fall (September) – Application must be complete by August 15
Spring (January) Application must be complete by December 15

To Apply

Login to MyCCP to complete the Opportunity Now form. To complete this step, you will need your Student Identification Number (J#), which is issued by the College once you have applied for admission. Once you login, click the "Student" tab, and under "Electronic Forms," select "Admissions Forms," and complete and submit the Opportunity Now form.

Contact Us

Community College of Philadelphia – Opportunity Now
Welcome Center, P1-05
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130-3991
opportunitynow [at] ccp.edu (opportunitynow[at]ccp[dot]edu)

If you are a City of Philadelphia employee, here is your opportunity to accomplish your academic goals—for less. Whether you are starting your college career, looking to finish your degree or wanting to pursue another degree, you may be eligible to receive a 25% tuition discount while enrolled in a degree or certificate program at the College through the Returning to Learning Program. After graduating from the College, you may transfer to four-year colleges and universities in the area who are also participating in Returning to Learning.

You must complete an application for admission to the College or be enrolled in the College as a first step. You must then complete an application to Returning to Learning each semester in order to receive the tuition discount. This benefit is only available to the City employee and does not extend to their dependents. Since processing generally takes from 7-10 business days, you are advised to submit your application for the discount well in advance of the payment deadline for the semester.

To enroll and apply for the discount, please follow the steps below.

STEP 1 : Complete an Admission Application

If you are not currently enrolled, complete the online admission application and follow the steps to enrollment.

STEP 2: Complete the Returning to Learning Application

Complete the online Returning to Learning form. This form must be completed every semester you wish to be considered for the discount. To complete this step, you will need your Student Identification Number (J#), which is issued by Community College of Philadelphia. Your J# will be emailed to you 3-5 business days after completing the admissions application. After receiving your J#, login to MyCCP, click the "Student" tab, and under Electronic Forms, click the Admissions Forms link. Complete and submit the Returning to Learning form.

You will receive an email regarding the status of your discount request. Please allow 7-10 business days for processing.

STEP 3: Pay for Your Classes

Payment for classes is due by the published deadline to maintain your schedule. Please reference the Academic Calendar for a listing of deadline dates. If your discount request has been made close to or after payment deadline, you will need to ensure sufficient payment is covered to preserve your classes. When you are approved for the discount, it will be applied as a refund to your account.

For more information, please contact:

ReturnToLearn [at] ccp.edu (ReturnToLearn[at]ccp[dot]edu)

or

HR and Talent Department
TalentSuccess [at] phila.gov (TalentSuccess[at]phila[dot]gov)
City of Philadelphia