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Hagerstown Community College

Early College Degree Program (formerly Middle College)

Early College Degree Program (formerly Middle College)

Early College Degree Program applications for the Fall 2023 class

Priority deadline date is March 1, 2023*

*Students may be accepted early (prior to March 1, 2023) to the Early College Degree Program for the fall 2023 semester if they have met all the Early College Degree Program criteria and completed the full application packet. Regular deadline date is May 2, 2023.

What is the Early College Degree Program (ECDP)?

HCC and Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) have established the Early College Degree Program which allows college-ready high school students the opportunity to earn college credits and credentials while completing their high school diplomas. WCPS students do not pay tuition for Early College Degree classes. WCPS students pay all fees and textbook costs associated with classes this fiscal year. All other students receive a 25 percent reduction on tuition rates they would be charged based on their residency.

Through the Early College Degree Program, each student will be given an opportunity to earn at least 30 college credits, and many will be able to complete requirements for certificates and associate degrees by the time they graduate from high school. Students in ninth and tenth grade are enrolled in the Early College Degree Program, as recruits, and must take significant math and science coursework at their “home” high schools to prepare them for their junior and senior years as students in the Early College Degree Program on the HCC campus.

Who should apply to the Early College Degree Program?

During the middle school years, students should begin to think about whether the Early College Degree Program is a good fit for them. It is designed for students who are high-academic achievers, capable of rigorous coursework, and interested in careers. For these students, the benefits include:

  • Enhanced learning
  • Starting and finishing college early
  • Saving money on a college degree
  • Participating in WCPS and HCC activities
     

What’s the process for becoming an Early College Degree Program student?

During middle school, interested students should contact their school counselors to review their educational goals and plan the appropriate coursework to prepare for entry into the Early College Degree Program. In the fall of ninth grade, appropriate students are identified as Early College Degree Program recruits and must plan and complete rigorous coursework at their home schools in preparation for their junior and senior years at HCC. These are typically upper-level math and science courses.

Students apply for the Early College Degree Program in their 10th grade year of high school (please see the admission criteria and steps and admission form) at the top of the webpage for more details. The Early College Degree Program serves as the students high school day. Attendance is taken daily and submitted back to WCPS. If you are planning to apply for acceptance into the Early College Degree Program program, please plan to attend a Early College Degree Program Information Session to learn more details about admissions, schedules, communication with WCPS, courses during the ninth and tenth grade years to prepare you for the Early College Degree Program, financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

What programs of study are offered?

Early College Degree Program students will select an educational pathway that will put them on the right course for a career, and further higher education if desired, in one of the following areas:

Note: *Selective program. Requires separate application for acceptance. Please note that you will be admitted into an AA.GST (Associate of Arts in General Studies) program until you are admitted into the clinical portion of the program you selected. Students must be 18 to participate in the clinical portion of the programs. For more information on these programs, please refer to the HCC Catalog at: https://www.hagerstowncc.edu/academics/catalogs.

Who pays for the Early College Degree Program enrollment?

Washington County Public School (WCPS) students do not pay tuition for Early College Degree classes. WCPS students pay all fees and textbook costs associated with classes. All other students receive a 25 percent reduction on tuition rates they would be charged based on their residency. HCC will provide additional scholarship opportunities for students. Through a combination of discounts and scholarships, students and their families will pay considerably less for Early College Degree Program enrollment than they would for college enrollment after high school graduation.

In the News

Meet the Early College Degree Program Graduates

Class of 2019