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Early College Program

What's New?

ALL COLLEGE COURSES FOR MCPS STUDENTS ARE NOW TUITION-FREE! Find out more.
The application period has closed for Fall 2023 admission to the Early College program.

May 16, 2023 Dual Enrollment Recognition Ceremony:

What is Early College?

Montgomery College's innovative Early College program provides Montgomery County Public School students an opportunity to experience college-level courses, accelerate the path to degree completion and entrance into the workforce, and save money on college tuition. The program is offered at all three MC campuses–and there are several pathways and degree tracks from which students can choose. 

Early college students at MC Commencement

Participating students will complete their 11th and 12th grade years of high school while simultaneously completing their first two years of college.  They will graduate with an associate's degree from MC as well as a Maryland State High School diploma.

Videos

Apply to the Program

Once you have reviewed the videos and found one of Early College's specific programs that you are interested in, it is time to apply for the program.

  • Check back in September to complete the Early College application process for Fall 2024.

Qualifications

Before applying for the program, students should be able to satisfy the following requirements:

  • Be enrolled at an MCPS high school as a 10th grade student
  • Have passed mathematics and English state assessments
  • Meet the appropriate assessment levels for the program
  • Have an unweighted high school grade point average of 2.75 or higher
  • Have met-or be near completion-of required high school Student Service Learning hours

By the end of their 10th grade year, students should have also completed their health, physical education and technology credits.

Early college students at 2022 Commencement

Benefits

  • Save money (college tuition, fees and textbook costs are covered with college application fee waived). 
  • Accelerate time to completion (students can transfer to four-year degree or enter workforce).
  • Experience the pace and rigor of academics at the college and university level
  • Small class sizes (student-teacher ratio is 17:1)
  • Embedded coaches (academic support)
  • Early College coordinators available on every campus
  • Experiential learning opportunities outside of the class
  • Free Ride On bus access

Early College Degree Pathways

The following Early College pathways are currently available

Students should review the pathway and degree information carefully before making their decision.

  • Behavioral Health: AA Behavioral Health (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information)
  • Biological Science: AS Science- Biological Science concentration(Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course;
  • Business: AA Business (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information)
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry: AS Science: Chemistry and Biochemistry concentration (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course; 
  • Computer Science: AA Computer Science and Technologies Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course
  • Math: AS- Science: Mathematics concentration (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window)  and Degreenew window information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course; 
  • Data Science: AS- Data Science (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information)
  • Elementary/Special Education:  AAT Elementary/Special Education (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree new windowinformation)
  • Engineering: AS- General Engineering (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course
  • Biological Science: AS Science- Biological Science concentration (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree new windowinformation)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course;
  • Biotechnology: AAS Biotechnology Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree new windowinformation 
  • Business: AA Business Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information
  • Computer Science: AA Computer Science and Technologies Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course; 
  • Cybersecurity: AAS Cybersecurity Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
  • Biological Science: AS Science- Biological Science concentration  Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course; 
  • Cloud Computing and Networking Technology: AAS Cloud Computing and Networking Technology Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information.
  • Computer Science: AA Computer Science and Technologies Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course;
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography: AAS Diagnostic Medical Sonography Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window)  and Degreenew window information
  • Nursing: AS Nursing Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
  • Physical Therapist Assistant: AAS Physical Therapist Assistant Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window)  and Degreenew window information
  • Radiologic Technology: AAS Radiologic (X-Ray) Technology Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
  • Surgical Technology: The AAS Surgical Technology Pathway is currently under review and revision.
  • Behavioral Health: AA Behavioral Health (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information)
  • Biological Science: AS Science- Biological Science concentration(Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course;
  • Biotechnology: AAS Biotechnology Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree new windowinformation 
  • Business: AA Business (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information)
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry: AS Science: Chemistry and Biochemistry concentration (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course; 
  • Cloud Computing and Networking Technology: AAS Cloud Computing and Networking Technology Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information.
  • Computer Science: AA Computer Science and Technologies Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course
  • Cybersecurity: AAS Cybersecurity Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
  • Data Science: AS- Data Science (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree information)
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography: AAS Diagnostic Medical Sonography Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window)  and Degreenew window information
  • Elementary/Special Education:  AAT Elementary/Special Education (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degree new windowinformation)
  • Engineering: AS- General Engineering (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course
  • Math: AS- Science: Mathematics concentration (Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window)  and Degreenew window information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course; 
  • Nursing: AS Nursing Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
  • Physical Therapist Assistant: AAS Physical Therapist Assistant Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window)  and Degreenew window information
  • Radiologic Technology: AAS Radiologic (X-Ray) Technology Pathway (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) and Degreenew window information
  • Surgical Technology: The AAS Surgical Technology Pathway is currently under review and revision.

4-Year Institution Acceptances for EC Students

MC Early College students have been accepted to the following 4-year institutions to complete their bachelor’s degree
American University 
Butler University 
Carnegie Mellon University 
Champlain College 
Claremont McKenna College 
Clemson University 
College of the Mines 
Cornell University 
Delaware State University 
Drexel University 
Elon University 
George Mason University 
George Washington University 
Georgia Tech 
High Point University 
Hofstra University 
Howard University 
James Madison University 
Kansas State University 
Lafayette College 
Lehigh University 
Loyola College of Maryland 
Loyola University-Chicago 
Marymount University 

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and  Health Sciences 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
McDaniel University 
Michigan State University 
Morehouse College 
Norfolk State University 
North Carolina A&T 
Northeastern University 
Notre Dame of Maryland 
Nova Southeastern University 
Ohio University 
Pennsylvania State University 
Pratt Institute 
Princeton University 
Purdue University 
Rochester Institute of Technology 
Salisbury University 
Savannah College of Art & Design 
Simmons University 
Smith College 
Spelman College 
Stevenson University 
St. Mary’s College of Maryland 


Stony Brook University 
Temple University 
The Ohio State University 
The Universities at Shady Grove 
Towson University 
Tulane University 
Union College 
University of Connecticut 
University of Delaware 
University of Florida 
University of Illinois 
University of Maryland Baltimore County 
University of Maryland Global Campus 
University of Maryland College Park 
University of Massachusetts - Amherst 
University of Miami 
University of South Carolina 
University of Tampa 
University of the Sciences 
University of Vermont 
Virginia Tech 
Vanderbilt University 
Washington College 
West Liberty University 
Worchester Polytechnic Institute 
Xavier University of Louisiana 



FAQ/Contact Us

Please refer to the following for some frequently asked questions (PDF, Get Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader - Link opens in new window) about the Early College program.  If you still have additional questions about Early College, please email earlycollege@montgomerycollege.edu for more information.