ACCF Revamps Loans for Adult Education
Joe Lyons •
October 3, 2024
ASHLAND – Starting this fall, Ashland County Community Foundation will award Hess Educational Loans to eligible adults year-round, so these individuals can take the next step in their education at their own pace.
Hess Educational Loans are available to help qualified students pay tuition and fees for higher education. Applications are typically reviewed three times each year for high school, continuing college or adult students pursuing a 2 or 4-year degree. For adult students pursuing certifications or other non-degree programs, year-round applications with quick-turnaround decisions are now available.
“We recognize that adults don’t operate on semesters, and adult education programs can start at various times throughout the year,” said Lanie Hartge, ACCF’s Educational Programs Director. “By creating a program specifically for adults, we are able to meet the needs of students pursuing certificates and other non-degree programs.”
Hess Loans are an exclusive Ashland County advantage made possible by a generous gift of Dr. and Mrs. Gilbert Hess in 1923. These loans are interest-free during the time the student is in school plus one year. After that time, interest is charged at the current prime rate.
Ashland County residents who are entering or currently enrolled in an Adult Education program are invited to visit www.ashlandforgood.org/educational-loans to learn more and take an eligibility quiz to see if they qualify.
“We’re excited to offer this new program, which was developed in alignment with our strategic priority of strengthening Ashland County’s workforce,” said Jim Cutright, ACCF President/CEO. “We hope that with a more flexible timeline, more adults will be able to take advantage of this financial assistance as they work toward their career goals.”
Applications for assistance with certificate and other non-degree programs can be submitted at any time with notification of loan approval or denial within three weeks.
For graduating high school seniors, continuing college students and adults pursuing degrees, application deadlines are November 1 for spring semester, March 1 for summer programs and June 15 for fall semester.
About Ashland County Community Foundation: Ashland County Community Foundation advances philanthropy and improves the quality of life in Ashland County by connecting people who care with causes that matter. ACCF has awarded over $33 million in scholarships, grants and distributions.