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Owens Grad Takes CCP Path to Ohio State Degree


Grace Hansen

Grace Hansen

Owens Community College offers students many pathways to a bachelor’s degree – all while saving money.

Grace Hansen began College Credit Plus (CCP) classes during her sophomore year at Findlay High School. She thought doing so might lead to an accelerated associate degree at Owens. She had not considered that by age 20, she would receive her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State, which she did in December 2020.

“Community college is a great way to get ready for a 4-year degree or technical career,” she said. “The financial side is great too. The CCP program allowed me to get through my bachelor’s with no debt. That’s one of my prouder moments. More people should give it a shot.”

In Ohio’s CCP program, high school students have the option to take college classes for high school and college credit – and the state and local school pay tuition, fees and book expenses. Hansen’s family utilized a long-term savings to pay for her college after high school.

The CCP program is student-initiated, although Owens advisors assisted Hansen and her family in the process.

The Express dual admission programs offer another pathway to a bachelor’s degree in partnership with Bowling Green State University, the University of Findlay, Lourdes University and the University of Toledo.

Owens has transfer agreements with a number of regional universities as well.

“We provide many solutions for our students, whether it’s College Credit Plus, the Express programs, general transfer or terminal degrees and certificates,” Erin Kramer, Owens director of admissions, said. “No matter what direction students choose, by starting at Owens, students will save money on their college education. Plus, scholarships are available at Owens to make the cost of their higher education even more affordable.”

Hansen, now 21 and living in Columbus, started Owens CCP classes before she could drive, so her father drove her to and from campus. She continued CCP classes as a junior and senior until high school graduation in 2018. She enrolled at Owens as a full-time student in Fall 2018 to complete her associate degree, graduating in December 2018.

In 2019, she transferred to Ohio State and majored in Security and Intelligence, a degree created post 9/11 that leads to working in U.S. intelligence agencies or the private sector.

“People always told me my credits wouldn’t transfer from Owens,” she said. “I told them that they would and just watch. And they did. All of my Owens credits transferred.”

Hansen was on the dean’s list at Owens and Ohio State.

She said taking a required public speaking class from Susan Burris, professor of English, is her favorite Owens memory. She added the class prepared her for public speaking and class presentations at Ohio State.

“I had such a positive Owens experience,” she said. “The courses were quite a bit more difficult than high school courses but not quite like OSU. By the time I got to Ohio State, I was prepared. And working with the Owens professors, it matures you a bit quicker. You have to be an adult and work with them. By the time I was at Ohio State, I knew how to be professional in an academic setting.”

Learn more about College Credit Plus >>
Learn more about Transfer >>
Learn more about the Findlay-area Campus >>

 
 
Published March 2021