Early College Experience
Concurrent Enrollment Program
Benefits | Who Should Participate | Courses Offered | How to Enroll | Enrollment Form | Questions
The Early College Experience Concurrent Enrollment Program at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) enables high school students to jump-start their college education by earning college credits while still in high school.
The Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) is a partnership between the College and area high schools to provide qualified high school students the opportunity to enroll in challenging college courses as part of their high school day.
All CEP courses are equivalent to those offered at Raritan Valley Community College. RVCC faculty and administration will monitor the courses to ensure that curriculum and grading standards in CEP courses are identical to those sections taught at RVCC.
What are the benefits?
By enrolling in CEP and earning college credits, high schools students can:
. increase their educational options
. enhance their opportunities for challenging and beneficial work
. begin preparing for their future college education or career
College credits earned can be applied toward RVCC degree programs or transferred to other colleges and universities across the nation in accordance with the colleges' transfer policies.
High school students pay only $150 for the first college course per semester along with the one-time College Application fee of $25. This is a savings over the usual College tuition of approximately $400 per three-credit course. There is an additional cost for textbooks and supplies.
Students will be registered at RVCC as non-matriculated, part-time students. After completing high school, students choosing to enroll at RVCC will be required to complete the standard RVCC Application for Admission. However, the application fee will be waived if the application is submitted within three years of their last semester of attendance at RVCC.
Who can participate?
High school students who:
. Meet all requirements for at least sophomore status
. Have earned a B average or above
(Exemptions: Students with a C average may be exempt from this requirement with a letter of support from a teacher in the relevant discipline)
. Have met prerequisites for the college courses chosen.
For example, to enroll in an English or math course, students will need to score at the appropriate level on RVCC's Placement Test in reading and writing for an English Composition course or score at the appropriate level on the math portion of the test for a mathematics course. Exemptions from testing are made for students who have SAT scores of 515 on the Verbal portion of the SAT for the English Composition course or 550 on the Math portion of the SAT for math courses.
What courses are offered?
Each high school, in conjunction with RVCC, determines the course(s) that can be offered through the Concurrent Enrollment Program. Courses that satisfy basic requirements in a broad range of majors and that have an excellent record of transferability are usually offered.
How to enroll
Step 1
Contact your high school guidance counselor to determine the courses being offered by your high school and what qualifications are needed to enroll. The guidance counselor will also explain who the designated high school representative is for the program and what the process is for enrollment.
Step 2
Fill out the application on the next page and obtain parent/guardian and guidance counselor signatures. Request a Concurrent Enrollment Registration Form from the guidance counselor.
Step 3
Take the RVCC Placement Test if needed. The guidance counselor or high school representative can schedule testing.
Step 4
Bring all of the following to the high school representative:
. The CEP application form, along with the $25 RVCC Application Fee
. Completed CEP Registration Form
. Copy of high school transcript and a copy of SAT scores or RVCC Placement Test Scores showing that any course prerequisites have been met
. $150 payment for the first course.
Any questions?
Please call Office of Academic Outreach at 908-526-1200, ext. 8557, or e-mail EarlyCol@raritanval.edu