Pathways to Paralegal Careers at MCC
Mohave Community College appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Online Associate’s in Paralegal Studies Degree Programs.
In Lake Havasu City or online via Schoology, the Business & Paralegal Department confers a Paralegal AAS for Mohave Community College undergrads seeking the trial preparation skills to handle vital procedures for certified attorneys. Directed by Dr. Stephanie Dieringer, the 63-credit, HLC-accredited degree trains legal assistants with a fundamental understanding of the judicial system. Each 15-week or accelerated eight-week course from Tort Law to Bankruptcy has a 16:1 student-faculty ratio and free 24/7 counseling. Second-year Mohave students must secure 120-hour paid or unpaid internships, such as the Law Office of Frank Waters, Knochel Law, Community Legal Services, and Kingman Cerbat Justice Court. Credits can easily transfer to Arizona State University’s online programs like the Justice Studies BS or Politics and Law BA. For short-term training, the 30-credit MCC Paralegal Certificate covers the basic functions of law firms in 48 weeks of online sessions, including Legal Research.
About Mohave Community College
Mohave Community College originated in October 1970 when Mohave County citizens voted to create a junior-level teaching institution with three sites. The next year, McCulloch Properties and the Neal Family donated 320 acres to break ground first in Lake Havasu City. By 1974, it was opened for Associate of Applied Science degrees in the Arizona System of Community Colleges. Accredited in 1981, MCC first launched electronic courses to link distance students in 1982. Under Dr. Charles Hall’s leadership, MCC kept expanding to Bullhead City, Kingman, North Mohave, and Colorado City near the Grand Canyon during the 1990s. In 2008, the Chronicle of Higher Education named Mohave the 24th fastest-growing technical school. Budgeting $44 million yearly, Mohave Community College now enrolls 5,809 Bighorns, including Paralegal AAS majors, with 30+ clubs like Chi Sigma for 48 percent retention. WalletHub ranked MCC 50th for career outcomes and 279th for financial aid nationally. Online College Plan listed Mohave 15th for a median mid-career salary of $54,500. The Paralegal Program was also crowned America’s 14th most affordable online by SR Education Group.
Mohave Community College Accreditation Details
On June 12, 2017, Mohave Community College submitted a satisfactory Fifth-Year Interim Report to the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) to retain Level I accreditation through Spring 2022 under its fifth president, Dr. Michael J. Kearns, who co-chairs the Getting AHEAD Project. Located over 1,640 miles east via Interstate 70 in Chicago, this mega 19-state Midwest accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Secretary of Education to assess student outcomes in 47 associate and 43 certificate options at five locations or online. Particularly, the Paralegal AAS is recognized by the Arizona Supreme Court for Certified Legal Document Preparers.
Mohave Community College Application Requirements
Attending Mohave Community College is classified “least selective” by the U.S. News & World Report since 100 percent of the 1,513 Fall 2017 applicants were accepted. First-year Bighorns seeking the Paralegal AAS must simply exceed open enrollment criteria. Graduating from an accredited high school or passing the GED equivalent at 580 or greater would suffice. Students under 18 can take up to six credits per term after meeting a 22 ACT or 930 SAT minimum. Dual enrollment also allows scores above 93 on the Preliminary SAT test. Avoiding academic probation requires a cumulative 2.0 GPA or better. College credits earned in the last 10 years with at least “C” grades will transfer. Preference is given for Arizona General Education Curriculum courses, such as English Composition, World History, and Algebra. Making the Honor’s List requires a minimum 3.5 GPA in over six 100-level or higher credits. The Office of the Registrar also seeks TOEFL pBT scores of 500 from F-1 Visa holders.
Mohave Community College conveniently has rolling year-round admission. Hopeful Paralegal AAS majors should apply at least two weeks before the semester starts though. Currently, those dates are August 28th, September 25th, October 25th, January 16th, February 5th, March 13th, and May 29th. Online, fill in all required yellow fields for the free MCC Admissions Application. Official transcripts can be mailed to 1971 Jagerson Avenue in Kingman, AZ 86409. The Assessment Center requires Compass placement tests if SAT or ACT scores aren’t included. Other documents might include the driver’s license or passport, immunization form, GED diploma, English fluency report, Joint Services Transcripts, and school counselor reference. Please contact (866) 664-2832 or mccconnect@mohave.edu to inquire further.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, Mohave Community College is billing Paralegal AAS students from Arizona $88 per credit. Non-resident undergrads pay $290 per credit. Eligible Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming residents receive the WUE discount to $128 per credit. Full-time campus tuition includes a $90 tech fee and $15 student activity fee. Associate of Applied Science totals are $5,544 in-state, $18,270 out-of-state, and $8,064 nearby. Spending 48 weeks on the Paralegal Certificate costs from $2,660 to $8,735 overall. Please note the MCC Governing Board budgets $8,130 for yearly room and board off-site. Associate majors should also leave $810 for texts and $4,512 for living expenses. Yet, transfers typically save over $12,000 off their bachelor’s education.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in Building 200 gets 72 percent of incoming MCC Bighorns flocking to mean offers of $4,538 for $6.47 million combined. Collegiate funds include the Anne Frazier Scholarship, Daily Miner Scholarship, GEO Group Foundation Scholarship, Historic Route 66 Scholarship, Horizon Community Bank Scholarship, ING Americas Scholarship for Women, London Bridge Lions Scholarship, Changing Lives Scholarship, Mohave CASA Council Scholarship, Rouha Scholarship, and Mona Brazie Memorial Scholarship. The President’s High Honors Scholarship gifts $2,000 twice to Mohave County locals reaching 3.8 GPAs. Arizona State University disburses $3,000 Academic Success and Professional Development Scholarships to future Mohave transfers. The Law Offices of Shawn B. Hamp provides a yearly $1,000 award for Paralegal AAS majors with GPAs above 3.0. Completing the FAFSA form coded 011864 after October 1st unlocks Federal Pell and SEOG Grant opportunities. A maximum of $10,500 can be borrowed from William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans. Federal Work-Study eligibility is logged on Net Partner for campus jobs generally paying $11.00/hour. The Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education also presents the LEAP Grant, College Access Aid, and Foster Care to Success Waiver.
Find more about Mohave Community College at the Business & Paralegal Department website.
