Students wishing to enroll in a community college associate degree program must apply to the college and pay any applicable application fee. High school transcripts for high school graduates must be transferred to the community college directly from the high school, in most cases. Students with a GED certificate may have to send a copy of GED test scores for admission. Community colleges require SAT or ACT testing scores meet minimum requirements for admission. In some cases, placement testing may be required before admission.
Continuing education or non-degree seeking students may have less strict requirements compared to degree-seeking students. Typically, students applying for continuing education courses must fill out an application to the community college and pay any application fees before acceptance. A college essay may be required. In some cases, life credits will be given for years spent working in the field of study if the student wants to move from a non-degree seeking status to a degree program.
High school students wishing to get a head start on a community college education may be eligible for a dual enrollment program. Dual enrollment requires a student take high school classes in conjunction with college-level courses. Some dual enrollment programs are offered directly through a high school. Other programs require admission to an early college high school. Students must meet and maintain program-specific minimum GPAs, in most cases.
International student programs are available at some community colleges in the United States. Students must apply to the community college of choice before applying for a student visa to attend classes at the college. Non-English speaking students may wish to choose community colleges with an English as a second language (ESL) program. Some community colleges allow transfer of college credits outside the United States if students wish to return home to complete a bachelor's degree program.
Limited admission programs as community college, such as nursing and law enforcement programs, may have program-specific admissions requirements. These may include letters of reference, minimum GPA, pre-program testing, background checks and mental health screenings. If a waiting list is in place, students may be required to continuing taking general education classes until admitted to the program.