Penn Highlands Launches Tuition-Free First-Year Program for Local Graduates

Penn Highlands Community College is taking a major step toward making higher education more accessible with its new Smart Start Promise Program. Designed as a pilot initiative, the program covers full tuition and mandatory fees for up to 30 credits during a student’s first year, giving recent Cambria County high school graduates a chance to begin college with minimal out-of-pocket costs.

Students can apply the funding to any approved degree or certificate program and have the flexibility to attend classes either in person or online. While the program pays for tuition and comprehensive fees—costs that support services like campus facilities and student activities—participants are still responsible for textbooks, supplies, and any course-specific fees.

To qualify, applicants must be recent high school graduates who meet Cambria County residency requirements and enroll in at least six credits in the first fall or spring semester after graduation. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is also required.

The idea for Smart Start was sparked by Penn Highlands President Steve Nunez, who previously worked at Sauk Valley Community College in Illinois, where a similar promise program was already in place. After discussions with local leaders, including Rob Foucey, momentum grew to create a version tailored to Cambria County.

“There was the seed planted in me that I hoped we could bring a promise program here,” Nunez said. “With continued support and persistence, we found a model that made sense financially.”

Support from state lawmakers, including Sen. Wayne Langerholc and Rep. Jim Rigby, along with a $900,000 contribution from the 1889 Foundation over three years, helped bring the program to life.

For many families, the initiative represents a meaningful opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of immediate debt. “We’re not equipped with the funds to pay for college,” said Penn Highlands student Mellanie Jones. “Otherwise, we’d be relying on loans.”

High school senior Alley Dusack echoed that sentiment, noting that the program could ease financial stress for students and their families. “It feels like a weight lifted,” she said. “You don’t have to worry as much about money.”

Penn Highlands leaders say the program is about more than affordability—it’s about building futures. By reducing the need for student loans in the first year, Smart Start aims to strengthen the local workforce, encourage students to stay in the region, and open doors that may have once felt out of reach.

The pilot program will serve graduating classes from 2026 through 2028, already influencing decisions for students like Jones’ daughter, who plans to enroll after graduating this year.

“It’s about hope,” Nunez said. “For many students, it’s realizing that higher education is possible—and taking that first step.”