Community colleges are designed to provide access to higher education for the widest range of people. Therefore, many have very open admission policies, and it is often possible to be admitted without a high school diploma. For example, California colleges reports that admission for California residents to any of that state’s 110 community colleges can be granted to those who are at least 18 years of age with or without a high school diploma. Those younger than 18 are required to have graduated from high school, or to have the equivalent of a high school diploma. Each different school sets its own admission policy for non-residents. California residents are generally given enrollment priority.
Many colleges and universities have a non-traditional student category for admissions. The University of Ottawa will admit a student as a “mature student” if the person has not been involved with full-time school for a minimum of two years, appears likely to succeed at the university and meets specific requirements for the major in which she is interested.
Nontraditional student status may come with initial qualifications. The student may be limited in the number of classes that can be taken the first semester or may be required to have her progress assessed after each semester. However, each school is different, so specific requirements and possible limitations need to be examined on a college by college basis.
Some colleges have programs that allow high school students to take classes that simultaneously count toward high school graduation and earn college credits. These are created through arrangements between particular high schools and colleges. The College of the Mainland in Texas City, Texas administers one such program through agreements with a number of its area high schools. Through the program, students can begin taking dual enrollment classes as early as their junior year in high school and can accumulate 30 or more college credits by the time they complete high school, essentially entering college as sophomores.