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Early College Program

Interested in Early College?

Come learn about the Early College Cybersecurity Programs at an open house: December 13, 10 a.m.–noon at the East County Education Center. Please Register here new window.

APPLY NOW! The Early College application for 10th graders to start next fall 2026 Is now open.  
The deadline to apply is on January 30, 2026.

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

Check out our Graduates at the 2023 Dual Enrollment Recognition Ceremony!:

Eligibility Requirements

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

  • Be a current MCPS 10th-grade student (Class of 2028).
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 through 10th grade.
  • Successfully complete and pass all required 9th- and 10th-grade coursework.
  • Meet college-level assessment and placement requirements for the intended degree program by March 15.
  • Obtain required approvals from both the high school and a parent/guardian.
  • Be prepared to begin Early College coursework as early as Summer 2026.

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

APPLY NOW (Until January 30th, 2026)

Steps To Apply

Before applying, make sure that the student and parent/guardian takes time to review all of the program details on this website. 

Make note of:

  • The general eligiblity requirements and overview of the program.
  • Research the degree programs that are offered and on which campus
  • Understand the placement requirements  and any special circumstances for that degree

To apply for the Early College program, you will submit a regular College admissions application that includes supplemental Early College information required.   

  1. CLICK HERE new window to view and download the instructions to apply.  You MUST follow these instructions to apply to the program.  Students who have already submitted a regular college admissions application for dual enrollment must still submit again using the Early College application type. Here are step by step instructions to apply:
  2. Now CLICK HERE new window to APPLY 

Make sure you choose EARLY COLLEGE as "the option that best describes you"

All Early College students will be fully admitted to Montgomery College and must meet the placement requirements.

Admission Decision letters (by email) will be sent by April 3rd.  Accepted students MUST confirm their intent to participate by April 17th.

Important Application Dates and Deadlines
  • January 30 – Student submits a Montgomery College Admissions application for Early College.
  • February 1 – March 15 – Completion of Guided Placement (instructions sent via email within one week of application submission).
  • March 15 – April 1 – Early College applications reviewed 
  • April 3 – Early College admissions decisions released to students via e-mail.
  • April 17 – Student completes the Intent to Participate form.

Current homeschool students must also request re-enrollment at their home high school and submit transcripts for evaluation by MCPS by April 17. Evaluation for re-enrollment must then be complete by June 1.

Benefits

Early college students at 2022 Commencement
  • 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 Programs

The following Early College degree programs are currently available

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

  • Behavioral Health: AA Behavioral Health (Degree new window information)
    • All students must also complete a Field Experience course that requires students to complete 9 hours per week of hands-on learning at an off-site location.
  • Biological Science: AS Science- Biological Science concentration (Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Business: AA Business (Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Applied Calculus level (MATH150)
  • Business Analytics: (Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Applied Calculus level (MATH150)
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry: AS Science: Chemistry and Biochemistry concentration (Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Computer Science: AA Computer Science and Technologies Degree information
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Math: AS- Science: Mathematics concentration (Degree new window information)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Data Science: AS- Data Science (Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Applied Calculus level (MATH150)
  • Elementary/Special Education: AAT Elementary/Special Education (Degree new window information)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the MATH 130 level.  All students must also participate in a Field Experience their first year and complete 30 hours outside of class.
  • Engineering: AS- General Engineering (Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Biological Science: AS Science- Biological Science concentration (Degree  new windowinformation)
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Biotechnology: AAS Biotechnology Degree  new windowinformation 
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Business: AA Business Degree  new windowinformation
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Applied Calculus level (MATH150)
  • Computer Science: AA Computer Science and Technologies Degree new window information
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Cybersecurity: AAS Cybersecurity Degree new window information
  • Biological Science: AS Science- Biological Science concentration Degree new window information
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement
  • Cloud Computing and Networking Technology: AAS Cloud Computing and Networking Technology Degree new window information.
  • Computer Science: AA Computer Science and Technologies Degree new window information
    • Students applying to this program must initially place at the Calculus level and should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course to prepare for the placement

NURSING/ALLIED HEALTH DEGREES: Early College Students who plan to major in nursing or any of the allied health degrees below will be assigned the temporary major of pre-clinical degree until they pass their TEAS entrance exam in spring of year one and are officially admitted. Students will take preparatory college courses and courses that fulfill general education requirements during their first year.  These degrees are 3 year programs. Student will complete their final year after HS graduation at own cost. Students are also expected to participate in clinicals or other field experience off-campus.  

  • (Pre-Clinical) Diagnostic Medical Sonography: AAS Diagnostic Medical Sonography Degree new window information
  • (Pre-Clinical) Nursing: AS Nursing Degree new window information
  • (Pre-Clinical) Physical Therapist Assistant: AAS Physical Therapist Assistant Degree new window information
  • (Pre-Clinical) Radiologic Technology: AAS Radiologic (X-Ray) Technology Degree new window information
  • (Pre-Clinical) Surgical Technology: AAS Surgical Technology Degree information
Cybersecurity: AAS Cybersecurity Degree  new windowinformation (NEW FOR FALL 2025)
  • Behavioral Health: AA Behavioral Health (Degree information)
    • All students must also complete a Field Experience course that requires students to complete 9 hours per week of hands-on learning at an off-site location.
  • Biological Science: AS Science- Biological Science concentration(Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course;
  • Biotechnology: AAS Biotechnology Degree  new windowinformation 
  • Business: AA Business (Degree information)
  • Business Analytics: (Degree information)- NEW for Fall 2024
  • Chemistry and Biochemistry: AS Science: Chemistry and Biochemistry concentration (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 Degree new window information.
  • Computer Science: AA Computer Science and Technologies Degree information
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course; 
  • Cybersecurity: AAS Cybersecurity Degree new window information
  • Data Science: AS- Data Science (Degree information)
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography: AAS Diagnostic Medical Sonography Degree new window information
  • Elementary/Special Education: AAT Elementary/Special Education (Degree  new windowinformation)
    • All students must also participate in a Field Experience their first year and complete 30 hours outside of class.
  • Engineering: AS- General Engineering (Degree new window information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course
  • Math: AS- Science: Mathematics concentration (Degree information)
    • Students applying to this program should currently be enrolled in precalculus or a higher mathematics course; 
  • Nursing: AS Nursing Degree new window information
    • 3-year program. Student will complete final year after HS graduation at own cost. 
  • Physical Therapist Assistant: AAS Physical Therapist Assistant Degree new window information
    • 3-year program. Student will complete final year after HS graduation at own cost. 
  • Radiologic Technology: AAS Radiologic (X-Ray) Technology Degree new window information
    • 3-year program. Student will complete final year after HS graduation at own cost. 
  • Surgical Technology: The AAS Surgical Technology Degree information

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 new window about the Early College program. If you still have additional questions about Early College, please email earlycollege@montgomerycollege.edu for more information. 

 

 

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