College Without the Debt: How National Heritage Academies Students Are Earning a $67,000 College Degree for Free

Early College students can earn an associate degree while still in high school, potentially saving families tens of thousands of dollars.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- "I couldn't imagine how much money worth of free education my kids have received through this program."

For Ciara Selden-Ruffin, the mother of Grand River Preparatory High School Early College student Aamir Hollowell, the financial impact of the Early College program has been substantial. It has given Aamir the opportunity to earn an associate degree without the family taking on the tuition bill.

That kind of financial head start is critical for families worrying about how they will pay for college.

The nation's federal student loan portfolio stands at nearly $1.7 trillion, with about 44.6 million borrowers carrying federal education debt. The issue is back in the national spotlight as changes to the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, Plan ended, requiring millions of borrowers to find a new way to repay their federal student loans.

For families with children approaching college, the uncertainty underscores a different question: What if students could reduce or even avoid some college debt before graduating from high school?

National Heritage Academies^® (NHA^®) Early College program is helping their students do exactly that.

A $67,000 Head Start

At Grand River Prep, an NHA partner-school in Grand Rapids, Mich., students can earn college credits, career credentials, and even an associate degree through the school's Early College partnership with Davenport University.

Tuition, fees, and books are covered through the program. Based on Davenport's current published undergraduate tuition rate, the value of a two-year associate degree can total approximately $67,000.

Felicia Pope, who works with Davenport University's Early College partnerships, said the program can put students in a very different financial position when they enter adulthood.

"You can be 18, 19 years old, you have an associate degree, you have the entry-level position in the field, without any student loans," Pope said.

Students can use that degree to begin working in their chosen field or continue toward a bachelor's degree with a significant amount of college coursework already completed. "You're halfway through your degree, saved a ton of time, a ton of money," Pope said.

Nine of NHA's high schools have an Early College program. During the 2024-25 school year, 565 students earned 5,186 college credits, saving an estimated $1.12 million in college tuition.

For NHA, the opportunity is about making college more accessible while preparing students for what comes next.

Koree Woodward, NHA Director of High Schools, says Early College is a natural extension of NHA's mission to prepare students for life after graduation.

"The program makes college feel more attainable for families who may not have otherwise seen it as an accessible option," Woodward said. "It helps students develop the knowledge, habits, character, and sense of responsibility needed for lifelong learning, college success, and meaningful careers."

College With a Support System

The financial savings are only part of the Early College model.

Students gradually transition into college-level work, beginning with one college course per semester during 10^th grade before increasing their coursework in their junior and senior years.

Pope calls it a "soft launch into college."

Davenport advisors work directly with students on applications, degree pathways, scheduling, and course selection. Grand River Prep advisors provide another layer of support, helping students monitor grades, manage college expectations, and stay on track.

Aamir Hollowell sees that support firsthand.

"Every week, you have a meeting with your advisor to help you stay on track," she said. "They just keep checking up on you."

Grand River Prep Early College Advisor Jayme McWain said students get the independence of college without having to navigate the experience alone.

"For them to have kind of a safety net and a support system built in is a really great feature of that program," McWain said. "It creates so much more access and skill building."

From College Credit to Career

In addition to the tuition savings, students can leave high school with college experience, career opportunities, and potentially two years of college already completed.

For some students, that head start can translate directly into a career.

Grand River Prep graduate Kennah Kalele earned an associate degree in medical assisting through Early College and is now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Grand Valley State University.

"I don't have to take any gen eds in the college that I'm going to, and I'm even ahead in some aspects of my nursing degree," Kalele said.

Her associate degree also helped her begin gaining professional experience. Kalele works part time as a medical transport technician while continuing her education.

For McWain, the value is clear.

"Anytime you can help someone get free college when the price is off the charts, that's a great thing," she said.

And for families like Ciara Selden-Ruffin's, it offers the opportunity for her children to start their futures with a college education rather than a tuition bill.

About National Heritage Academies:

National Heritage Academies^® (NHA^®) was founded in 1995 with families in mind and the belief that every child deserves an education that builds knowledge and character. Today, NHA supports 105 tuition-free, partner-schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 K-12 students through rigorous academics and Moral Focus™ programming. NHA

SOURCE National Heritage Academies