Rio Students Save with MCCCD-NAU Connection

The MCCCD-NAU Connection is a partnership formed to support quality undergraduate education offered by Northern Arizona University and Maricopa County Community College District colleges like Rio Salado.

The partnership is coordinated through the MCCCD Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation and allows Rio Salado College students to transfer up to 90 community college credit hours toward a four-year degree from NAU.

“Students can be intimidated by the thought of getting a four-year degree,” said David Hall, director of advisement services at Rio Salado College. “They think it will be too expensive or that it will take too much time. That’s why creative partnerships like the NAU Connection are so important.”

“Students can work with a community college advisor and an NAU advisor simultaneously and develop a clear pathway to completing both the associate and then the bachelor’s degree, saving both time and money,” Hall said.

After completing an associate degree from Rio Salado and up to 30 additional qualifying credits, students can take their upper-division NAU courses through any NAU extended campus location, online or in-person at the Communiversity in Surprise.  

“The Connection partnership creates an accessible pathway to a four-year degree,” said Felicia Ramirez-Perez, assistant director of advisement at Rio Salado College.  “Students can take up to 90 credit hours at a community college price point and then finish up the last 30 at NAU.”

She added, “Not only are the community college classes less expensive, but in most cases they are also available online. This means students don’t have to pay for gas, parking or child care. They can even continue to work full time if they want.”

Qualified students participating in the MCCCD-NAU Connection partnership can also take advantage of two unique scholarship opportunities. The NAU Extended Campuses Department offers a $1,000 scholarship to MCCCD transfer students. A $2,000 Connect2NAU scholarship is also available to all students transferring to NAU programs in Flagstaff or at extended campuses.

Students interested in learning more about the MCCCD-NAU Connection are invited to attend an online advisement event hosted by Rio Salado College and NAU to be held February 21 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visit the Rio Salado College Advisement website for details.