Frequently-Asked Questions

These FAQs cover the main questions about C2C. See below to learn more about these topics:

C2C Background & General Questions
The C2C Registration Process
C2C Coach Support
Financial Support & The C2C Grant
Degree Programs & Other Resources

Background & General Questions

Complete 2 Compete (C2C) is a program that helps eligible adults go back to college to FINISH a degree.

C2C program provides participants many benefits to help them overcome the barriers that adults face when returning.

Our goal: to helping adults return and complete a degree so they can experience a brighter future! 

As an adult returning to college, you have different needs than those of traditional incoming freshmen. 

C2C is a free program that provides resources and support for returning adults like you.

Here are just a few of the benefits that you can receive as a C2C participant:

  • C2C Coach Support: You’ll be partnered with a C2C Coach who will help you find the fastest path to your degree and connect you with resources to help you achieve your college goals.
  • Financial Support: Most C2C participants are eligible to receive a $1,000 grant every term to help pay for college. C2C also helps you uncover other financial aid that may be available.
  • Tailored Degree Options & Other Resources: We will help you reach your degree as quickly as possible with degree options and other resources that are only available to C2C participants.

The C2C program serves adult learners who fit these criteria:

  • Have at least 12 college credits.
  • Have not attended a community college or university in the past 24 months (based on last date of attendance).
  • Do not already have an associate* or bachelor’s degree.
  • Are 21 years old or older.

Complete the easy C2C registration to discover if you qualify.

*If you have an associate degree and are pursuing a University Studies bachelor’s degree, you may be able to participate in C2C if you have 90 or more credits. Learn more here.

The workforce is changing in Mississippi! There are greater opportunities available for people with the right education. Earning your degree can help you get a better, higher-paying job, creating a more stable future for you and your family.

Complete 2 Compete is a statewide initiative created by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) and the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB). IHL is the governing body of the eight public universities in the state of Mississippi, and MCCB is the coordinating body of the 15 state community colleges.

The C2C program and grant funding is provided by the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Credits earned at Mississippi community colleges and universities do not expire. Your C2C Coach is committed to helping you make the most of your earned credits and find the fastest path to a degree.

If you have past college credits that you would like to apply toward a degree, your next step is to register for C2C.

There are two circumstances when a degreed student can be eligible for C2C program benefits, including the C2C Grant:

  1. University Studies Degree Program – qualifying C2C returning students who earned an associate degree prior to enrollment and meet the requirements of the University Studies Degree Program are eligible for the C2C program benefits including grant assistance.
  2. Continuous Enrollment – qualifying C2C students who return to a participating community college and complete an associate degree, can be eligible for continued C2C Program participation and benefits to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a participating university if they maintain and continuous enrollment.

Not at this time. The C2C Program helps Mississippians earn their first associate and/or bachelor’s degree.

Not at this time. The C2C Program helps Mississippians earn their first associate and/or bachelor’s degree.

For all questions and updates, please do one of the following:

  • You can call 1 (833) 222-4338 to speak with a representative who can answer questions and help you register.

If you have not yet registered for C2C, please complete the registration

C2C can help you pursue any degree available at the participating college you choose. All available degree options and learning preferences such as online or in-person classes are open to C2C participants.

Your C2C Coach will assist you in creating a plan that will provide you the fastest path to a degree and that is flexible to adjustments if needed.

It’s your degree plan, and we help you devise one that meets your goals.

C2C Registration Process

To become a C2C program participant and access C2C benefits, just click this link to register for C2C, or click the “Start Here” button in the website menu. The simple online registration form will take you through the steps and connect you with a C2C Coach who will guide you through the rest of the process.

If you received a personalized postcard or email invitation from Complete 2 Compete, congratulations!  You are one of the thousands who attended one of Mississippi’s 24 public colleges and might be closer to a degree than you thought.

The invitation is personalized based on your known earned credits.

Be sure to use the link or personal web address provided.

Then simply verify your identity and most of the information needed to register will be filled in for you based on your most recent attendance.

Be sure to update any information you find to be outdated and answer any remaining questions.  

You will be informed of how close* you could be to a degree and referred to the college where you can make the most of your earned credits.

*Based on your earned credits from Mississippi community colleges and/or public universities.

It’s very easy to register for C2C by responding to a Postcard or Email invitation or by clicking this link to access the registration page to get started.

You’ll go through a simple, interactive survey on your home computer, laptop, or smartphone. Just answer the questions to get connected with a C2C Coach and begin the process of making the most of your earned credits.

Maybe you will be one of more than 30,000 Mississippians who already have enough credits for an associate or bachelor’s degree!

If you do not have an invitation postcard or email from C2C, simply visit the C2C Registration Page to get started.
The C2C registration will ask you about the following:

  • Your college history: where you attended and approximately how many credits you have earned.
  • How you would like to finish your degree: online, on campus, or both
  • Your contact information

Don’t worry if you don’t have all the details about your past college credit history. Complete the registration as best as you can. Your C2C Coach will help you in making any needed updates during the transcript review process.

We keep your information secure, and it is only used for internal processing purposes.

When you register for C2C, you will enter your career and educational interests. Based on this information, we will match you with a list of schools that offer the classes you need to earn your degree.

However, if you have most of your current coursework from one institution (community college or university), it is usually best to finish your degree there. Students are required to earn at least 25% of their degree credits from the degree-awarding institution. If you have questions, just contact your C2C coach!

You will receive a confirmation email and have an opportunity to speak with a C2C representative immediately after registering. During this Welcome Call, you will get your questions answered, learn more about the C2C Grant, and prepare to meet with your assigned C2C Coach.

Due to the overwhelming response to the C2C program, it could take 10-15 business days to hear from your C2C Coach once you finish your Welcome Call.  

Most C2C Coaches reach out via email after you’ve completed your Welcome Call. (If you have not heard from your C2C Coach yet, please check your spam/junk folders.) In this email, your coach will provide the next steps for your path to a degree.

C2C Coach Support

Each C2C participant is supported by a C2C Coach who helps them find the fastest path to a degree and connects them with resources to help them achieve their college goals.

At the heart of C2C is the team of C2C Coaches. Each C2C participant is assigned a personal coach who will help you find the fastest path to your degree. You don’t need to figure out all the details yourself… your coach is your central point of contact for any questions you have.

Transcripts, credits, classes, tuition, and schedules can be confusing. Your coach will help you make the most of your credits, find the fastest path to a degree, and connect you with all the resources available to you.

Sometimes, depending on your institution and degree program, your coach may connect you with another faculty member who will help you create your degree plan or schedule your classes. Despite who you work with at your college/university, you can always connect with your coach if you need to make an update or have a question.

C2C Coaches understand what it’s like to go back to college as an adult. With the help of your coach, you’ll identify your fastest path to a degree.

  • Find classes that fit your work schedule, like online or evening classes
  • Discover the best degree program for you.
  • Connect with school-specific services like childcare, virtual tutoring, and even tuition assistance.
  • And more!

Your C2C Coach will help you through the process. They’ll support you from start to finish, staying in touch to encourage you as you reach your goal.

You’ll work closely with your coach at the beginning of your journey as you transition back to college and create a degree plan. After that, you should hear from the coach 1-2 times a semester for a “coach check-in.” Feel free to contact them at any time if you have questions, though.

After you register for C2C, the next step is to complete your C2C Welcome Call. If you have not yet completed your call, you will not hear from a C2C Coach at your institution.

To have your Welcome Call, please call us at 866-793-6281. C2C Representatives are available Monday through Saturday, 8am to 9pm, and Sunday 9am to 6pm, Central Time Zone

If you still cannot reach your coach, please try the following:

  1. Confirm that you have their correct email and phone number by calling 866-793-6281 and speaking with a C2C representative.
  2. Call and/or email your coach again.

If you are still unable to reach the coach, please visit the contact page and send an email to the State C2C Office.

You are welcome to call 866-793-6281 any time with questions or concerns.

Financial Support & The C2C Grant

Most C2C participants are eligible to receive a $1,000 grant every term to help pay for college. C2C also helps you uncover other financial aid that may be available.

Thanks to our funding partners, C2C services are provided at NO COST to returning adults! C2C benefits like coach support, degree plan creation, tailored degree options, and more are all provided for free.

However, you will have costs from the college or university, especially if you still need to take some college classes. Your institution will tell you about these charges.

To help with these costs, many C2C participants receive funding from the C2C Grant. Learn more about the C2C Grant here.

If you want to go back to college, finances can be a barrier! That’s why Complete 2 Compete offers the C2C Grant for eligible students.

The C2C Grant can be used to assist eligible C2C participants with tuition and fees at any Mississippi community college or public university. The C2C Grant can also be used to help pay down past debt owed to a participating C2C institution permitting access to student transcripts and school admission.

  • Most C2C participants are eligible to receive a $1,000 grant every term to help pay for college. C2C also helps you uncover other financial aid that may be available.
Learn about applying for the C2C Grant here. Your C2C Coach can help guide you through the application process if you have questions.

Adults with prior debt can still register for the C2C program.

However, you might not be able to access your official transcripts or reenroll in college if you have an unpaid, past-due balance at a prior institution.

If you are eligible for the C2C Grant, you may be able to use these funds to help pay past debt owed at participating Mississippi institutions. Paying these debts may release financial holds that you may have. Learn more about the C2C Grant here or contact your C2C Coach for more information.

To be considered for the C2C Grant, first register for the Complete 2 Compete Program.

After that, it is simple to apply for the grant. Visit the C2C Grant page for more details and contact your C2C Coach to let them know you are interested in applying for the C2C Grant.

Yes! C2C Grants are renewable and you can receive them for multiple eligible semesters (subject to fund availability).

To be eligible for additional C2C grants, you need to:

  • Continue enrollment without a break in semesters (summer is excluded)
  • Be in good academic and financial standing with your community college/university
  • Reapply for the C2C grant each semester

Please make sure that your C2C Coach knows that you would like to receive the C2C grant for multiple semesters, and they can help you reapply.

The grant can be used to pay tuition and fees at any Mississippi community colleges and public universities.

The grant can also help you pay past debt at participating Mississippi institutions, if this debt is holding you back from accessing your transcripts or returning to school.

For complete grant details, please visit the C2C Grant page.

No, when applying for the C2C Grant, you only need to complete the FAFSA and MAAPP once. You DO need to reapply for the C2C grant each semester. Please visit the C2C Grant page for more information.

(If you want to be considered for federal and state aid each year, you do need to complete the FAFSA and MAAP each academic year.)

For more information about the C2C Grant, visit the C2C Grant page.

Degree Programs & Other Resources of the C2C Program

C2C provides tailored degree options & other resources that are designed specifically to help C2C returning students.

C2C participants can pursue any degree program they wish at Mississippi community colleges and public universities, but they can also access two important degree options:

  • The University Studies Degree Program (bachelor’s degree)
  • Reverse Transfer Associate Degree option (associate degree)

These programs are designed to provide returning adults with the fastest path to a degree—a valuable credential!

Learn more about these degree options below.

The University Studies Degree program gives adult learners a flexible path to a bachelor’s degree. It is one option for returning students who want to FINISH their degrees! For many adults, it is the fastest path to a degree.

The program serves adult learners who fit these criteria:

  • Have already earned at least 90 college credit hours.
  • Have NOT completed a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have NOT attended a community college or university in the past 24 months (based on last date of attendance).
  • Are at least 21 years old.

Students in this program graduate with a University Studies degree, so it is perfect for the adult who has many college credits but not enough to complete a degree in a specific major. Many people who changed their majors one or more times find that this program is the ideal way to complete a degree with little or no additional coursework.

The degree curriculum may be individualized for each adult learner based on the coursework already completed and career goals. This degree program also includes grade forgiveness, and at participating institutions, you may be able to apply up to 30 hours of technical credits toward the degree.

For more information, please register for the C2C program or contact your C2C Coach.

Grade forgiveness allows for failing grades (e.g. “F” grades) received before re-admission to the University Studies Degree Program to be disregarded and omitted from the calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA). Its availability is limited to eligible C2C program participants, and applicable only to the University Studies Degree program for purposes of qualifying for admittance, enrollment or graduation.

Adults who fit these criteria may be eligible for the University Studies Degree Program:

  • Have already earned at least 90 college credit hours.
  • Have NOT completed a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have NOT attended a community college or university in the past 24 months (based on last date of attendance).

For more information, please register for the C2C program or contact your C2C Coach.

The University Studies Degree Program is available at all Mississippi public universities, including The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC).

For more details on the University Studies Degree Program at your institution, please contact your C2C Coach. This degree program is only available at the bachelor’s level.

The Reverse Transfer Associate Degree (RTA) is for adults who transferred from a community college to a public university, and who have at least 16 transferrable credits at the university.

Using the RTA option, adults can transfer credits from the university BACK to the community college. These “reverse transfer credits” can help the student earn an associate degree from the community college.

An associate degree is a credential that can make it easier to get jobs and to get pay increases. The Reverse Transfer Associate Degree can help adults to quickly earn an associate degree, even while they are still working on a bachelor’s degree.

Adults who fit these criteria may be eligible for the Reverse Transfer Associate Degree option:

  • Transferred from a Mississippi community college to a public university.
  • Have earned at least 16 transferrable credits at the university.
  • Have NOT completed an associate degree.

These people may be able to transfer their credits from the university BACK to the community college to earn an associate degree.

For more information, please register for the C2C program or contact your C2C Coach.

All Mississippi public institutions offer some degree options that can be earned completely online. However, most degrees require at least some in-class participation.

There are many online CLASSES offered but the choices for online DEGREES are more limited.

When you’re ready to go back to college, you can most likely re-enroll directly at your college. However, adults who register with C2C first access many benefits. C2C exists to help adults go back to school!

The benefits are different at each community college or public university, but here are some benefits that are available exclusively to C2C participants:

  • Academic forgiveness
  • Adult learner scholarships/tuition assistance
  • Special adult learner tuition packages
  • Institutional incentives for adult learners
  • Regionally accredited Career Technical programs and career technical coursework may be accepted for credit toward your degree
  • Reverse transfer associate degree*
  • University Studies Degree Program

Many institutions now have additional options which make it easier for adults to return to college. Here are a few of the options that are making college more accessible for busy adults:

  • Virtual tutoring
  • Support labs
  • Adult learner organizations
  • Online classes
  • Online degree programs
  • Night and weekend classes
  • Repayment plan options
  • Prior learning assessment
  • On-campus childcare

Learn more about the benefits by visiting the Student Resources page.

*some institutions offer the option of reverse transfer associate degrees to any student (not exclusive to C2C participants).

For more information about degree programs and other resources, please contact your C2C Coach.

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