Adding to its already impressive resumé of transfer agreements with public universities, Ivy Tech Community College now offers an exceptional array of 17 statewide transfer programs with Trine University, a private university headquartered in Angola.

Ivy Tech and Trine University’s partnership creates two pathways from an associate degree to a bachelor’s degree. The “3+1 pathway”, which creates the most affordable bachelor’s degrees in Indiana, allows students to take their first 3 years (freshman, sophomore and junior) at Ivy Tech and finish their senior year at Trine University. The “2+2 pathway” allows students to take their first 2 years (freshman and sophomore) at Ivy Tech and their second 2 years (junior and senior) at Trine. The pathway students take to a bachelor’s degree would depend largely on the academic program in which they are interested.

“Trine University is pleased to partner with Ivy Tech to offer a new way for students to earn a Trine degree,” said Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., Trine president. “It’s exciting to know that a new group of students and the region can benefit from Trine’s reputation for producing work-ready graduates.”

Trine University is reducing its tuition from $360 per credit hour to $260 for Ivy Tech graduates maintaining a 3.0 or better grade point average. This discount, combined with the new 3+1 agreements, now allow students to earn two college degrees – an associate degree from Ivy Tech Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Trine University – for less than $20,000.

That cost is even less for Ivy Tech students accepting invitation into Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for two-year colleges. Those students will receive a deeper discount of $125 per credit hour discount at Trine University.

Additionally, high school students taking Ivy Tech’s free dual credit classes while in high school could earn both their associate and bachelor’s degrees for less than $15,000.

“The 3+1 pathway is an innovative approach to higher education that is certain to help many Hoosiers realize their educational goals without an overwhelming debt burden after graduation,” said Dr. Mary E. Ostrye, Ivy Tech provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs. “With the median family income in Indiana at about $50,000, the traditional four-year residential collegiate experience is becoming out of reach for many families. This outside-the-box approach to college transfer will turn what is a dream of going to college into a reality for many Hoosiers across the state.”

Trine has regional centers in Avon, Columbus, Fort Wayne, Logansport, Schererville, South Bend, Warsaw, Michigan and Arizona. Trine University’s residential campus is in Angola.

“Offering students and prospective students a bachelor’s degree for less than one-fourth the cost of the first year at residential universities is a phenomenal opportunity,” Ostrye said. “We appreciate Trine University’s willingness to consider a forward thinking approach to higher education delivery. This partnership is an example of two institutions putting the interests of students first and their willingness to help us keep higher education costs in check.”

More students are realizing they can save thousands of dollars in tuition, room and board by taking advantage of these transfer agreements. According to Ivy Tech officials, the number of students transferring from Ivy Tech to 4-year public colleges and universities throughout Indiana has increased 438 percent in just the last ten years. More than 8,800 students this past academic year transferred more than 175,000 credit hours, up from 1,015 students and 13,244 credit hours just 10 years ago.