In The LOOP: How the Kentucky LOOP Program Is Bringing Education Opportunities to All of Kentuckians
For many prospective college students in Kentucky, cost of living is a real concern. To take advantage of the educational and employment opportunities available in the Louisville Metropolitan area, many Kentuckians coming from rural counties face stiff competition and rising housing costs. According to Rent Jungle, which tracks average rent costs across the country, the average rent in Louisville rose 10 percent in the last year alone. Add this cost to the rising cost of higher education and the cost of moving from a county outside the Louisville Metro area and you are left with a growing number of the greater Kentucky college-eligible population simply unable to make college work.
The Kentucky LOOP Program is aiming to change this trend. The LOOP (Living Options and Opportunities Path) Program is a partnership between UPS and Metropolitan College, which adds housing benefits to an already lengthy list of amenities for prospective students of Jefferson Community & Technical College who live outside of the Louisville Metro area. The Metro College program offers students who work the night shift at UPS Worldport free tuition and reimbursement for books. For LOOP students from eligible counties, UPS will help pay moving costs as well as reimburse the student for housing costs while the student works for UPS.
Meet Kyla
The opportunity to graduate debt-free and have housing costs paid for is a huge leg up for Metro College students like Kyla Hanley. Kyla, a LOOP program participant, knows that without these generous programs, she would not have been able to attend college. Because she works the night shift for UPS, Kyla is able to attend Jefferson Community and Technical College’s Cosmetology program for free and receive a monthly stipend to help with her housing costs..
Kyla enjoys working for UPS and plans to continue doing so after she graduates. “The LOOP program made it possible for me to go to college in the first place,“ Kyla says. “I wouldn’t have been able to afford housing.” Kyla also credits the program for helping her become more social, a vital skill in the cosmetology industry. “It’s nice having coworkers you get along with. My best friend currently is who I work with right now. UPS brought me out of my shell.”
How to Get in the LOOP
Getting started in the Metro College LOOP program is easy! Head over to metro- college.com and click on the header “Get Started.” One helpful tip for students looking to participate: fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). There are links at Metro-College.com if you need help finding the FAFSA. Also at the website, you’ll find a handy Metro College checklist. Follow the steps and you’ll be on your way to all the amazing benefits UPS, Metro College and the Kentucky LOOP have to offer!