Prospective college students will have a chance to talk to representatives of 50 private and public colleges and universities at College Night at Beaufort County Community College. Parents and students can come to Building 10 on the BCCC campus from 6:30-7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 with questions about programs offered by institutions around North Carolina.

Public universities such as East Carolina, Winston-Salem State, North Carolina State, North Carolina A&T, UNC-Chapel Hill, Elizabeth City State and UNC-Wilmington will be on hand. Community colleges attending include Pitt, Edgecombe, Nash and, of course, Beaufort County. Private colleges will also be attending, including Salem College, Shaw University, Catawba College and Campbell University. Students who are starting to apply to colleges will want to check out the opportunities available both near and far.

Representatives from the College Fund of North Carolina (CFNC) will be in attendance to answer general questions about financing college. Many students are still making up their minds about what kinds of program they would like to pursue. Families are discussing whether it makes sense for their children to attend a small private university or to start off at a community college. Families who have not considered college might find a program that is both affordable and appropriate for their child.

According to statistics from the Census Bureau, residents of Beaufort County older than 25 who hold an associate’s degree currently earn 30% more than residents with only a high school diploma. Residents with a bachelor’s degree earn 60% more than those with only a diploma.

Healthcare positions such as nursing are increasingly requiring bachelor’s degrees, and new state certification requirements mean that the same will be true for paramedics in the next five years.

While graduation seems far away, students need to start filling out applications for both universities and financial aid to meet approaching deadlines.