Young Harris College is making higher education more accessible than ever for students in Towns, Union, Fannin, and Rabun counties with the launch of its new Free Tuition Program for Dual Enrollment participants.
The program offers automatic admission and free tuition for qualifying local students who choose to continue their studies at YHC after high school. It also waives enrollment deposits and includes textbooks, removing nearly all financial barriers for students pursuing a college degree close to home.
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“We saw that there was a need in the area in getting students engaged in higher education, and it goes back to our mission in serving the local students here,” said Kayla Walker, Associate Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications.
Continuing, “When you take dual enrollment, you’re getting college credit for free, so we just wanted to continue on that opportunity for them to be able to further enroll in higher education and not let finances be a barrier.”
To qualify, students must meet HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements, complete the FAFSA – a formality that does not impact admission or tuition status – and take at least one dual enrollment course through YHC, either in-person or online.
The benefits extend beyond free tuition. Dual enrollment students gain access to YHC’s campus resources, including the library, tutoring center, and student activities, along with flexible scheduling options and ongoing staff support through application and financial aid workshops.
Walker said the goal is not only to help students, but to strengthen the community as a whole.
“We’re a community partner,” she said. “We noticed that not a lot of students were engaging with the college, and we think it was because of the price being that barrier to being a local option for them.”
Walker added, “This is special for our local community.”
By helping local students start their college journey affordably, YHC is also investing in the area’s future employment base.
“You’re preparing the next generation of workforce in this area,” Walker said. “They’re staying local and developing their skills to go on to future jobs and hopefully remain locally and give back.”
Looking ahead, YHC is also developing new programs designed to prepare students for professional success.
“In Fall 2026, we’re launching a new Professional Readiness Program, and it’s going to be all about ensuring that our students are developing future skills for the workforce,” Walker said. “We’re encouraging those students to come here, but we’re not just saying that we’re going to prepare them for the future – we’re providing proof.”
The program will include a professional readiness course on financial literacy, ethics, and leadership, as well as an internship requirement.
Mackenzie Harkins, Assistant Vice President for Advancement, added that the program will also strengthen ties between the college and local businesses.
“It helps to integrate the community into the work that we’re doing because of internships and job placement opportunities,” Harkins said. “We have a lot of community supporters that want to support our students, and this will be a very good direct line to make that happen.”
YHC also plans to recognize local organizations that collaborate with the college as Professional Readiness External Partners, an initiative meant to showcase community investment in education and workforce development.
For more information about the Free Tuition Program or to enroll, students can email admissions@yhc.edu or contact Clint Hobbs at cghobbs@yhc.edu. Hobbs serves as Special Assistant to Young Harris College President John Wells.
For Dual Enrollment course questions, contact Dean of Dual Enrollment & Distance Learning Diane Bauman at dibauman@yhc.edu or call 706-379-5204.
