Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) and three other Georgia institutions are part of a landmark multi-state agreement designed to simplify the transfer of online course credits, opening a seamless pathway for residents of the Appalachian region to earn bachelor’s degrees.

The agreement, forged between the Community Colleges of Appalachia (CCA) and Western Governors University (WGU), allows graduates and employees of CCA member institutions to further their education through WGU’s accredited online degree and certificate programs without leaving their home communities.

The CCA boasts 85 member institutions spanning from Mississippi to New York. In Georgia, its members include Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Chattahoochee Technical College, Lanier Technical College, and Athens Technical College.

Under the terms of the new partnership, graduates and staff of these CCA member schools can enroll in WGU online bachelor’s degree programs with formal assurance that applicable credits will transfer smoothly, significantly reducing the likelihood of repeating coursework. This formalizes a process intended to make higher education more accessible and efficient.

“This partnership is especially meaningful for our small and rural colleges, where access to affordable, flexible bachelor’s degree programs is often out of reach,” stated Dr. Kevin Boys, executive director of CCA.

Beyond streamlined credit transfers, graduates, staff, and faculty from CCA member schools will also be eligible to apply for specially designated “Learn Where You Live Scholarships,” each valued at up to $3,000.

Western Governors University is an accredited, nonprofit online institution that offers over 80 bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certificate programs across diverse fields including business, technology, health care, and K-12 education. Tuition for most WGU bachelor’s degree programs is approximately $4,000 per six-month term, with students able to take as many classes as they wish within a term, subject to the consent of their assigned program mentor.

The agreement comes as the Appalachian region continues to face educational and economic challenges. According to the Appalachian Regional Commission, while the region’s population is growing, it lags the national average by 4.3%. Furthermore, only 27.3% of Appalachians hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, significantly behind the national average of 35%, and the median household income in the region is roughly $14,000 below the U.S. average ($64,588 vs. $78,539). This new partnership aims to address these disparities by fostering greater access to higher education.