Ranken Technical College has rolled out several new scholarship and grant programs that will make a Ranken education more affordable for Illinois residents. Ranken, with help from generous donors, has developed specialized education financing options with Illinois residents in mind.
Ranken currently offers program-based scholarships in the amount of $3,000 for students entering the fields of Precision Machining Technology (PMT), Information Technology and Architectural Technology. Due to the growing demand for machinists in local industry, and Ranken’s high job opportunity per student ratio in the precision machining field (9:1), the College has developed an additional scholarship for second-year PMT students. Three PMT Senior Scholarships, in the amount of $3,000, will be granted to second-year PMT students who reside in Illinois. Students will be selected based on need and past academic performance.
Ranken has also implemented a grant that was modeled after the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP). The MAP program provides grants (which do not need to be repaid) to Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need. Ranken’s Illinois Resident Grant is also need-based and can be awarded to students from public or private high schools who choose to enroll in any of the programs offered at the College. Students can receive up to $2,000 via these grants, and Ranken has currently set aside $100,000 to fund the grant program.
This summer Ranken received a three-year grant from the Dana Brown Charitable Trust totaling $85,356. The grant will provide two individual scholarships at $14,226 per year.The scholarships will provide room and board, books, tools and other living expenses for needy or at-risk students who are between the ages of 18-21 and wish to attend Ranken. The scholarships are intended to assist students who live outside the St. Louis Metropolitan area and who reside in the College’s newly-opened dorms, The Myrtle and Earl Walker Residence Hall. This grant allows students to concentrate full- time on their studies and take advantage of the services offered by Ranken’s Student Support Services program and Student Achievement Center to reach their goals.
The Monticello College Foundation is also helping Illinois students pay for their Ranken education by providing a $10,000 gift. This is used to award four women a $2,500 scholarship. Awardees must be in their first year at Ranken and provide 50 hours of community service work per semester at the College or another nonprofit organization. The Monticello College Foundation, based in Godfrey, Ill., funds programs and projects that advance the education of women in the hopes of encouraging more young women to pursue degrees in technical fields.
“We want Illinois residents to realize that a Ranken education is affordable.” said the College’s Vice President for Finance, Pete Murtaugh. “By providing these scholarships specifically for Illinois residents, we hope that they will be able to take advantage of the educational and employment opportunities Ranken offers.”Even during these difficult economic times, Ranken graduates are in high demand. On average, there are over 5 job opportunities per student and 98% are placed in a job in their field within six months of graduation.
For more information about these financing options or for a complete list of the scholarships and grants that the College offers, contact the scholarship director at (314) 286-4802.
