Frequently Asked Questions


What classes can/should I take?

  • As long as prospective students meet course prerequisites and/or any specific program requirements – which may or may not included placement testing, they can enroll any class on the course schedule. Advisors work closely with students to choose classes that match students’ college and career aspirations. A great place to start is with our Core 42 courses.
  • Current offerings are available on the Course Schedule.
  • Dual credit courses may also be available at your high school. Check with the ECC Early College & Admissions or your high school counselor for details.

What is Core 42?

  • The completion of the CORE 42 at any public institution of higher education will transfer to every other public institution of higher education in the state and substitute for the receiving institution’s general education requirement. Individual courses that comprise the CORE 42 are guaranteed to transfer one-to-one among all public (and participating independent) colleges and universities in Missouri. Visit Missouri Higher Education Core Transfer Curriculum for more information. Some institutions do require specific courses in certain programs, so students are advised to check with their transfer institution or ECC Transfer Advisor for additional information.

What is the cost of Early College courses?

  • Early College students pay half of the in-district tuition rate. Click Tuition & Fees for current information.
  • Dual credit students – taught by high school faculty. These students do not pay general nor course-specific fees.
  • Dual enrollment students – take classes on campus or online. These students do pay general fees and course-specific fees.
  • It is possible that a student may be enrolled in both dual credit courses and dual enrollment courses at the same time, so varying fees depending on the course will apply.

What books and/or other course materials will I need?

  • Dual Credit students may need to purchase course materials, if not already provided by the high school. Students should check with their high school instructor for details.
  • Dual Enrollment students will need to purchase their own course materials.
  • Information about course materials is available from our Bookstore.

Is financial aid available?

  • Financial aid and scholarships are not available for Early College students while still in high school through ECC. However, students who meet certain eligibility requirements may qualify for the state’s Dual Credit / Dual Enrollment Scholarship. Eligibility information and application can be found here. Once students graduate high school, they may be eligible for traditional forms of financial aid, such as A+ funding, grants, scholarships, and loans.

Will Dual Credit/Enrollment have a long-term effect on my financial aid eligibility?

  • Failing or withdrawing from a dual credit or dual enrollment class may have an impact on future financial aid eligibility at East Central College. Students who plan to attend ECC after high school graduation will be held accountable to Financial Aid’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. For more detailed information, please refer to ECC Financial Aid.

How will Dual Credit / Enrollment affect my A+ eligibility?

  • Dual Credit / Enrollment grades could affect cumulative grade point average (CGPA). A+ requires a CGPA of 2.0 the initial fall semester after high school and then a CGPA of 2.5 after that. The dual credit grades will be in that calculation that is used to determine eligibility.

What effect do P grades (Pass Grades) have on grade point average (GPA) and Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?

  • Ps are handled per ECC policy as a C (2.0).

How many classes can I take?

  • Please check with the high school counselor.

Can my parents or someone else call to get information on my behalf?

  • If a student is attending a post-secondary institution – at any age – the rights under the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) have transferred to you –  the student.  However, in a situation where a student is enrolled in both a high school and a post-secondary institution, the two schools may exchange information on you.  If you would like to give ECC permission to talk with someone else about your academic and financial records, you will need to complete a FERPA Release of Information Form.

Will I get college and high school credit for my college course?

  • The high school determines if students receive high school credit for the college course taken through ECC. Students are advised to check with their high school counselor before enrolling.

My high school is off for the day. Do I need still to attend my ECC class?

  • Students who normally attend class at the high school (dual credit), would not be able to attend class. However, students taking courses at ECC (dual enrollment) are required to follow ECC’s academic calendar. Therefore, students must attend class, unless ECC has a holiday or is closed.

What do I do if I’m sick or can’t get to class?

  • Students should refer to their course syllabi for instructors’ attendance policies. Students should also email or call instructors to notify of an absence and to find out how to make up the work.

Do I receive a midterm grade?

  • Yes. Students can find their midterm grade through their MyECC account.

What do I need to do to withdraw from an Early College course?

  • You must notify the Early College & Admissions office at admissions@eastcentral.edu or by calling 636-584-6588 for further instructions.