For many families, the question isn’t whether college is worthwhile. It’s whether they can afford it.

At Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), financial aid, scholarships and tuition assistance are putting higher education within reach for more Baltimore County residents. Through federal and state aid, including the Baltimore County and Maryland Community College Promise scholarships, eligible college students can attend CCBC with little or no tuition expense.

In fact, an estimated 93% of CCBC students receive full or partial tuition assistance. That support can be life-changing for students balancing college with work, parenting or other family responsibilities.

For Chutney Wortham ’25, those responsibilities included caring for a sibling.

“Being a college student is already stressful when it comes to trying to balance finances,” Wortham says. “My journey was a little more unique because I was taking care of my little brother.”

Affordability was essential if she was going to add college to an already demanding life. With help from CCBC’s financial aid advisors and staff, Wortham was able to attend tuition-free.

“My entire tuition was free,” she says. “I attended CCBC and did not have to pay at all.”

The college’s flexibility and support allowed Wortham to study full time, care for her brother and work at the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office. When income from her job affected the amount of federal aid she could receive, CCBC staff helped her identify other resources to cover the difference.

“I’m one to worry a lot,” Wortham says. “They told me, ‘You’re going to be able to attend your classes. Take a deep breath. We’re going to work through this.’ They went above and beyond to help me cover the remainder of my tuition.”

Wortham graduated from CCBC with an associate degree in 2025 and continued to the University of Baltimore through Degrees to Succeed, a transfer partnership that gives students access to additional financial support and coordinated services as they complete their bachelor’s degrees. She has since earned her bachelor’s degree and is beginning law school at the University of Baltimore.

“I absolutely love CCBC,” she says. “I hold it near and dear to my heart because I attended during a very hard time in my life. I often tell people that if CCBC were a four-year institution, I would still be there.”

Wortham’s experience shows what can happen when students receive support that reflects the realities of their lives. It also demonstrates the difference an affordable introduction to college can make, not only for students, but for the families who depend on them.

For many families, that introduction can begin while their children are still in high school. Through CCBC’s Early College Access Programs (ECAP), students attending Baltimore County public or private schools, as well as homeschooled students, can take college courses at a 50% tuition discount. Qualifying Baltimore County Public Schools students may receive additional assistance covering tuition, fees and books. Eligible students can also earn both high school and college credit for approved courses, helping them save time and money on a future degree or certificate.

Beyond ECAP, CCBC’s affordable youth programs include summer career pathways for teens, Camp Heritage for younger students (K-5th grade) and individual classes covering subjects from algebra to the arts. Whether the goal is to strengthen an academic skill, try something creative or explore a possible career, families can choose from programs that fit their interests, goals and budget.

For some, a summer class may be an important first introduction to a college campus. For others, ECAP can provide a head start on college credits. And for students like Wortham, CCBC can offer an affordable path to a degree and the support needed to continue when life becomes complicated.

From childhood enrichment and early college access to tuition-free degrees and transfer opportunities, CCBC is helping Baltimore-area families see higher education as something attainable. At every age and stage, there is an opportunity to learn, grow and begin building what comes next.

Learn more about lifelong learning opportunities at CCBC!

• Attend CCBC tuition-free
• Continuing Education
• Degrees to Succeed
• Early College Access Programs (ECAP)
• Workforce training
• Youth programs