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Early College FAQs

What is Early College?

Early College enables eligible high school students to take college courses begining in the summer prior to their sophomore year in high school and receive both high school and college credit for those courses. Students who meet all the requirements to graduate on time will finish with a S.C. high school diploma and an associate's degree. Aiken Technical College instructors teach at MVHS for the sophomore and junior classes. During senior year and in the summer, students take the courses on site at ATC.

How do I qualify?

You must have a PSAT score of 500 or more (Reading/Writing), complete the Accuplacer Test with Reading Skills of 80 and Writing Skills of 90, and participate in a personal interview.

When do I register?

Early College course registration will occur prior to each academic semester (summer, fall, and spring). For the 2020-21 cohort, registration will occur in May for the summer term, in August for the fall semester, and in December for the spring semester.

How many classes will I take?

The entire cohort consists of 61 credit hours (over 3 years). The students will have the choice of earning an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science.

Will my coursework transfer to other colleges or universities?

College transfer courses are widely accepted for academic credit in South Carolina and other states; however, the acceptance of transfer credits is strictly the responsibility of the receiving institution. The SC Commission on Higher Education (CHE) publishes a list of 86 courses that transfer between and among the public colleges and universities in SC.  All courses required for the Associate in Arts and the Associate in Science at ATCare are from the CHE list of transferable courses. For more information, visit the CHE website, .

More Questions?

Please contact our guidance department at 803-593-7104!

Want to see what our first cohort of Early College graduates had to say about their experiences?