Aspiring artist finds STCC to be a smart start, graduates debt-free

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Maryam Abbasi, who dreams of becoming an animator for film and television, could have applied to an art school after getting her high school diploma. But instead, she chose to enroll at Springfield Technical Community College.

STCC might not be the first college that comes to mind for an arts education. It’s the only technical community college in Massachusetts and is known for science and engineering programs. But it was a great fit for Abbasi, who earned an associate degree from STCC this spring in liberal arts transfer in art. She graduated debt-free. A Springfield resident, she is headed to Montserrat College of Art in Beverly this fall.

Because Abbasi went to an online high school, she had never been in a classroom with other students until she arrived at STCC in 2018.

“My sister had gone to STCC before me,” Abbasi said. “She had a really good experience with it. I didn’t want to go directly into a four year without any experience in a regular setting before. I thought STCC would be a good way to integrate into (a classroom environment) and then transfer.”

Designed for students who want to transfer, STCC’s fine arts program parallels the first two years at a four-year arts school, said Frances Riddle, professor of visual and performing arts.

“If you graduate with an associate in liberal arts transfer in art, you would be able to transfer seamlessly to any state college or university in Massachusetts as well as have many of the foundation classes you would need in any private college or university somewhere else,” Riddle said. “While we are a technical community college, our largest program is general studies, which offers a variety of courses. And it gives you that general education block with which to transfer.”

General studies students might take classes in areas such as humanities and art in addition to math and science.

Riddle said many students choose STCC as a transfer institution because the community college offers the same classes they would find at any other accredited four-year college or university but at a fraction of the cost.

Community colleges like STCC might appeal to recent high school graduates who are considering their options at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many four-year colleges and universities to move online and restrict access to their campuses.

Regardless of what career you’re choosing, STCC really can get you into it and get you comfortable with college life and classes. Maryam Abbasi, STCC graduate who transferred to an art college

“If you sign up for a transfer program, you will get classes that will be recognized by four-year colleges and universities,” Riddle said. “I think this is an excellent opportunity for those students who are thinking, do I want to pay a ton of money to go to a private college in the fall when I may be living at home anyway? Or do I want to save money and have less debt when I get out of college and take a semester at a community college?

“I do anticipate we will be an excellent option for people who just don’t want to go through the chaos of going back to school and not knowing if they will be on campus or off campus and spending a lot of money to do that,” Riddle said.

STCC is viewed as a “start smart” for students looking for the most affordable path toward a bachelor’s degree. Students can choose from a number of transfer options. For example, a student who participates in Commonwealth Commitment starts at STCC and then transfers to a Massachusetts state university (including MCLA, MassArt, or UMass) to earn a bachelor’s degree for as little as $29,000 for all four years. By comparison, a student who chooses to attend all four years at UMass Amherst would pay about $67,000 in tuition and fees, not including room and board.

Abbasi, who was one of Riddle’s “rock star students,” decided to come to STCC two years ago as a transfer option in part because it was the most affordable pathway to start her higher education journey.

With financial aid, including grants and a scholarship, Abbasi said she “didn’t have to pay a cent” for her two years at STCC. “I knew going straight into a four-year school was going to be difficult,” she said.

She loved her experience at STCC and would recommend the college to anyone considering their options for this fall.

“Regardless of what career you’re choosing, STCC really can get you into it and get you comfortable with college life and classes,” she said. “It’s super affordable as well. In my experience I had really great professors. They know what they’re doing. They engage with their students very well. So I would recommend that anybody go to community college first, specifically STCC."

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

Founded in 1967 and located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts. As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC’s highly regarded transfer programs in business, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, liberal arts, and STEM fields continue to provide the most affordable options for students pursuing a four-year degree. With an annual enrollment of about 7,000 day, evening, weekend, and online students, STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

For more information about STCC, visit www.stcc.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@S_T_C_C) and Instagram (@stccpics).

MEDIA CONTACT

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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