They are rivals on the playing field, but teammates in the classroom.

69 News reported last week that Lehigh University in Bethlehem and Lafayette College in Easton are joining forces with Northampton Community College.

The partnership is for increased educational opportunities. The schools want to ensure those in community college know they are wanted.

It could start with those like NCC freshman Travis Brewer. The 18-year-old has learning  aspirations set higher than a community college degree.

"Associate is at least something, but a bachelor's is better to get," Brewer said.

It's an academic dream many community college students think is out of reach, said Mark Henry, NCC's director of advising and transfer services.

"Financially and academically students feel they're beyond what students are capable of doing," Henry said.

Lafayette and Lehigh, longtime foes on the football field, are now teammates in the classroom at NCC. Each now has programs actively recruiting NCC students.

"This partnership will raise the awareness and allow them to apply to both schools and potentially transfer to either one," Henry said.

Lehigh is looking for students in NCC's honor program. Both Lehigh and Lafayette will be sending representatives to campus several times each year.

 "We plan ahead so take the right courses, so when do transfer to either Lafayette or Lehigh, will take only two years to complete," Henry said about the academic philosophy of transferring students.

Students will also be eligible for Lehigh and Lafayette's financial aid requirements and may be in line for additional scholarships, which is welcome news to financially strapped students like Brewer.

"It's a good community college. Cheaper to get two years out of the way and then to degree," Brewer said.

The application fee for both schools is also waived

Students have gone from NCC to Lafayette and Lehigh before. The difference now, school officials said, is it's a concrete plan between the schools.