Early College Programs


What is Early College?

Early College refers to any course taken before high school graduation, which encompasses dual credit and dual enrollment courses.

  • Dual Credit allows high school students to earn both college and high school credit simultaneously. Dual credit classes are taught by ECC-certified high school faculty in the high school. Dual credit student eligibility criteria are listed below. Dual enrollment students are not held to the same requirements.
  • Dual Enrollment allows high school and home school students to enroll in college. Classes are taught by ECC faculty, either on-campus or online. While students earn college credit, they may or may not gain high school credit toward graduation. Students should check with their counselor or another school official for more information.
  • Early College Academy allows selected high school students, at participating schools, the opportunity to complete an associate’s degree at the same time as their high school diploma. Nine hours of dual credit classes (taught at the high school) can be counted toward this program. For the remaining hours, students must attend on-campus or online through ECC.

Dual Credit Student Eligibility

  • Juniors and Seniors with an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) are encouraged to enroll. ECC uses the Placement Test Guide to determine enrollment eligibility.
  • Juniors and Seniors who have between a 2.5 – 2.99 GPA (4.0 scale) may also be approved to enroll, with appropriate placement test scores, and a signed letter of recommendation from the school’s counselor, principal, and student’s parent/guardian.
  • Sophomores must have an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), appropriate placement test scores, and a signed letter of recommendation from the school’s counselor, principal, and student’s parent/guardian.
  • Freshmen must have an overall minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), score at the 90th percentile or above on the ACT or SAT, and a signed letter of recommendation from the school’s counselor, principal, and student’s parent/guardian.