Experience what it's like to take a college course. Earn both college and high school credits. Explore classes that interest you and discover the many places it can lead.
The Dual Enrollment program allows students to take Harford Community College courses while completing their high school diploma. Depending on the classes chosen, the program prepares them for college or for entering a career immediately following high school. What does that mean for students? Listen to their perspective in the short video below.
Eligibility
Dual Enrollment is open to high school students who meet high school eligibility requirements and/or College prerequisites. Students do not have to attend a Harford County Public School to participate. Many students who take advantage of this program are home-based learning (homeschool) students or those who attend private schools.
Choosing the best option for a student’s academic path is important and should be discussed with a school counselor and/or parents before applying to the College.
Benefits of Dual Enrollment
- prepare for college and workforce careers through exposure to college-level and trade certification courses
- ease the transition from high school to college
- offset the cost of a college education
- earn transferable credits, shortening the road to degree or certification.
- gain access to College resources and campus life
- explore programs of study and career pathways to help choose the direction you want to pursue.
- experience college atmosphere
- engage with faculty on a more individual level
- increase the probability of earning a degree and/or technical certificate (as evidenced by studies of students who participated in similar programs)
- stand out to potential employers and transfer colleges as a student who is serious about pursuing their eduction.
How to Enroll
Find out the steps you need to take based on where you attend high school.
Students may take classes at Harford at any point in their high school career. If under the age of 16, see that tab (below) for additional information. Always begin the process by speaking to your high school counselor.
Eligible HCPS dual enrollment students Receive Free Tuition
Steps to Dual Enrollment:
- Meet with your HCPS school counselor about your plans to attend Harford for college courses.
For the Dual Transfer of Credit option you MUST verify with your school counselor that the college course you plan to take meets HCPS graduation requirements. See HCPS DUAL TRANSFER OF CREDIT GUIDE.
- Complete the HCPS Dual Enrollment application to apply for Dual Credit and/or College Credit courses through the HCPS Student Planner.
- You will receive an auto-generated email from HCPS once your application has been processed.
- Within about a week of receiving the HCPS approval for Dual Enrollment, you will receive an acceptance email from Harford. This email will contain your next steps including your Harford Student ID number and your Owlnet, Harford’s student portal, information.
If you do not receive the HCC email, check the personal email address you provided
on your application, your parent’s/guardian’s email, or your spam folder.
- Contact your Harford Admissions Representative to learn about next steps to registration.
Certain classes, like English 101 and Psychology 101, require that students prove College and Career Readiness with Harford. This can be done by submitting a high school transcript and/or certain test scores. Your admissions representative will discuss this with you, if needed. More Information.
Students in official HCPS-HCC cohort classes will be registered for their course by
Harford. Your admissions representative will provide more information.
- If you would like a parent/guardian to have access to your Harford course information (including grades), you should complete the FERPA Disclosure of Information Release form. This can also be found in Owlnet.
- Once registration is confirmed, rent your course books through the Harford College Store to receive them for free. For assistance, email bookstore@harford.edu and include your full name, Harford student ID number (H-ID), and HCC email.
- Visit the Dual Enrollment section of Owlnet for helpful resources geared specifically to you!
For dual enrolled students starting in the Fall semester, Dual Enrollment Orientation occurs in August. It is imperative that students attend – students will receive more information regarding orientation via email and text.
Students may take classes with Harford at any point in their high school career. If under the age of 16, see the below tab for additional information. Always begin the process by speaking with your high school counselor and/or college counselor.
Steps to Dual Enrollment:
- After speaking with your high school counselor and/or college counselor, complete Harford’s Admissions Application selecting “selecting ”High School or Homeschool Student”. You will receive your acceptance email within 1-2 business days. This email will contain your next steps including your Harford Student ID number and your Owlnet, Harford’s student portal, information.
- After receiving your acceptance email, contact your Harford Admissions Representative to learn about next steps to registration.
Certain classes, like English 101 and Psychology 101, require that students prove
College and Career Readiness with Harford. This can be done by submitting a high school
transcript and/or certain test scores. Your admissions representative will discuss
this with you, if needed. More Information.
- If you would like a parent/guardian to have access to your Harford course information (including grades), you should complete the FERPA Disclosure of Information Release form. This can also be found in Owlnet.
- Once registration is confirmed, learn more about course books through the Harford College Store.
- Bill payment information, including due dates, is found in the All About Me section of Owlnet.
- Visit the Dual Enrollment section of Owlnet for helpful resources geared specifically to you!
For dual enrolled students starting in the Fall semester, Dual Enrollment Orientation occurs in August. It is imperative that students attend – students will receive more information regarding orientation via email and text.
Students who will be under the age of 16 while taking Harford classes must prove college readiness* in order to be admitted as a Dual Enrollment student. This is for all students under 16, no matter where they attend high school.
Students identified as under 16 will be contacted directly by an Admissions Specialist to explain requirements and next steps. This will occur either after the student completes the HCPS approval process or for private school and homeschool students after the Harford application is submitted.
* College readiness is determined by taking the Accuplacer® and testing at a college level in reading, writing, and math. Unless you are planning to enroll in a PE class only, this step must be taken prior to meeting with an Academic Advisor. COMAR (state) regulations on college admission for students under the age of 16 state that, "Students under 16 years of age are not to be admitted to an institution of higher education, unless they are deemed 'gifted and talented'." Harford Community College defines gifted and talented as any student under the age of 16 who take the Accuplacer® and assess at college level reading, writing and math."