Much has been made about the costs associated with obtaining higher education, and how fees from attending college can haunt people for years.

There’s no doubt about it: In most cases, getting a college education is expensive and, for many people in the nation and county, cost-prohibitive.

Some elected officials have explored ways to make higher education more affordable, while others have proposed everything from free education to the erasure of debt for college students.

Despite all of this discussion, the cost to attend a college or university remains high.

So, it’s great to see a new agreement announced last week between a Pittsburgh college and several community colleges, including Butler County Community College, that expands opportunities for students and makes higher education more affordable.

On Thursday, Robert Morris University signed an agreement with BC3 and community colleges in Allegheny, Beaver and Westmoreland counties for an initiative known as RMU Gateway that will begin this fall.

Under the initiative, community college students at the schools involved in the program will be able to be admitted directly to Robert Morris and take up to 12 credits at that college at the same time they are earning an associate degree from their community college.

Most importantly, tuition for the RMU credits will be the same amount they’d pay at their community college.

This would result in significant cost savings for participating students.

On top of that, students enrolled in RMU Gateway will be eligible to live in university housing and take part in RMU’s meal plan while completing their associate degree. And once they complete that degree, they can transfer to RMU, where they will be eligible for scholarships, depending on their grade-point average, that range from $3,000 to $12,000 annually.

This is a great opportunity for Butler County students who have the talent, hard work ethic and desire to seek higher education, but have limited options because of finances.

We’re glad to see BC3 participating in the program, and hope that county students are able to benefit from it.

“This not only puts college within reach for more and more students, but it also bolsters our commitment to ensuring that Western Pennsylvania has the highly skilled professional workforce it needs to sustain economic growth,” RMU President Chris Howard said.

Those are all worthy goals, and we wish the program and its community college student participants much success.

— NCD