Free Degree Promise Students Start Strong on IT Pathway

For Collin Clair of Vergennes and Aidan Hall of Proctor, getting a head start on college while in high school didn’t just save money. It gave them time and support to figure out what they wanted to do and how to get there.

Both students were interested in computers but unsure what path would help them transform their hobby into a career. Encouraged by their counselors to consider Vermont’s Early College program, which allows high school seniors to enroll full-time in college courses at no cost, they each enrolled at the Community College of Vermont (CCV) and graduated from their respective high schools with over 20 college credits and momentum on a purposeful pathway to an IT career.

After completing high school, Clair and Hall both chose to finish their CCV degrees in Information Technology through the Free Degree Promise, which offers Early College students a second year at CCV tuition-free — creating a fast, affordable pathway to an associate degree. Along the way to their degree, they both also completed a cybersecurity certificate.

Now, both students are at Champlain College studying cybersecurity and networking, building on the foundation they started in high school.

Clair, a 2024 graduate of Vergennes Union High School, said that early exposure to college-level work helped him discover an interest he hadn’t fully defined before.

“I love computers. I use them day-to-day and I like knowing about the things that I use and enjoy,” he said. “I just didn’t know what I wanted to do with that yet. I knew I wanted to do something in this field, but I was like, I do not want to go to college.”

Clarity about his next step came with time. After connecting with Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) programs, he began to see new options.

“I said, wow, I actually do want to go to college,” he said. “I want to take my interests further. I want to focus on something with computers.”

When he learned that Early College could lead directly into a second free year at CCV, the decision made sense.

“I was like, that’s an entire degree!” he said. “Sign me up for that. That sounds awesome.”

Hall, a Proctor High School graduate and now a junior at Champlain College, had a similar goal: to expand his options while keeping costs manageable.

“I chose Early College and the Free Degree Promise because I wanted options,” Hall said. “Coming from a small high school, there weren’t a lot of IT, networking, or systems administration classes.”

“Another big reason was taking the financial burden off my shoulders,” he added. “College is not cheap, and taking on only two years was a real benefit.”

Both students say the structure of the program — starting early, moving at an accelerated pace, and completing associate degrees while still teenagers — gave them momentum heading into their bachelor’s programs.

Clair completed his fast-tracked associate degree entirely online, which allowed him to balance work and school while adjusting to college expectations.

“Being able to make my own schedule was something I really liked,” he said. He was able to stay engaged in his community by working at the afterschool program at his local elementary school, which also helped him build his savings.

For Hall, the experience eased him into college-level academics before transferring.

“CCV prepared me to step into [a bachelor’s degree program],” he said. “It gave me confidence to know I could do well. I’ve been doing great in classes because I was normalized to routines and college-level work that I would have been thrown into if I went to Champlain straight off the bat.”

That preparation made the transition to Champlain smoother for both, even as they adjusted to new environments.

“I went from all online classes to a college that is completely in person,” Hall said. “I had never lived in a city bigger than Rutland… now I’m meeting people from all over.”

Clair also found himself stretching outside his comfort zone.

“I forced myself to shift my perspective,” he said. “I want to do things on campus more often. I want to interact with more people. It was a little awkward at first, but once I got into a groove… it was a lot easier.”

The transfer process itself was straightforward, thanks to established pathways between CCV and four-year institutions.

“All of my credits transferred, so I started here fully as a junior,” Hall said.

With their associate degrees complete and bachelor’s degrees underway, both are considering next steps in a field that continues to grow in Vermont. Roles such as software developers, computer systems analysts, and IT specialists are projected to offer median wages of at least $30 per hour, with more than 300 openings in the state between 2022 and 2032.

For Hall, that outlook aligns with his goals.

“When I graduate, I hope to go straight into the workforce as a network engineer or doing systems administration,” he said. “I will look for a remote job or a local job in the Rutland area.”

Clair is still exploring where he wants to focus but values having the time and space to make that decision. What both emphasize is that starting early and avoiding financial risk made it easier to explore their interests and take that first step with confidence.

“Taking the first couple of years at CCV helped me figure out my interests,” Hall said. “Now I can go into something that fits me.”

And for Clair, there was value in simply getting started.

“I needed someone to help me find that passion, find that interest and just point me to the open door. I was not interested in college, and then I ended up going to two years of school for free. I’m doing what I love. Once you’ve opened that door… there’s so many different things that you can do.”

Since the Free Degree Promise launched in 2022, hundreds of students from across the state have been supported in accelerated pathways to the free CCV degrees of their choosing. Last year, the McClure Foundation extended its commitment to the Free Degree Promise to the Vermont high school classes of 2027-28.

Learn more at ccv.edu/freedegree. Early College registration for the class of 2027 is now open.