Early College

Early College

Early College allows high school students to earn college credits while earning their high school diploma. Participants in the program get to jumpstart their college experience by taking classes at our campus alongside regular college students or at their high school during the normal school day. Students also have access to advising, the library, bookstore, free tutoring, campus activities and more at WVU Parkersburg.

Contact Information
Phone:
304-424-8209

Email:
earlycollege@wvup.edu

Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Test Codes
ACT 4542
SAT 5932

Apply

Create a “First Time User” account

    1. Login ID
    2. Pin
    3. Verify Pin

Select Early College Application

Complete the rest of the application as follows

Click Application is Complete and agree to the terms and conditions.

Eligibility

To qualify for Early College enrollment, a student must:

Be a sophomore, junior or senior in high school for the current school year.

Maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher in their college courses

Meet or exceed the required ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer placement scores for specific courses

Costs & Savings

Tuition: Tuition is $50 per credit hour for the 2023-2024 school year.*

Early College Penalty Schedule:

Tuition Penalty Schedule for Early College students taking courses at their high schools

Session NameSession StartsSession Ends0% Ends75% Starts75% Ends50% Starts50% Ends
Early College1/16/20245/10/20242/11/20242/12/20242/25/20242/26/20243/3/2024

Students who do not enroll in the Early College Course at the beginning of the term who choose to be added at the end of the term will be charged full tuition for the course. Early college tuition rates apply only to the students who are timely registered.

*Refund only occurs when a student withdraws from all courses in the semester

For Early Colleges students taking courses at WVU Parkersburg locations, the same policy applies to these students that is currently in place for matriculating students.

The chart below shows how the cost of WVU Parkersburg’s Early College program compares to costs at other major colleges in the state. With proper planning, it is possible for students to complete their first full year of college within their last two years of high school. This means students and parents can save up to $23,760 in tuition by enrolling in Early College.

Tuition: Tuition is $50 per credit hour for the 2023-2024 school year.*

Books: Students are responsible for the costs of books and materials required for classes.

*Scholarships may be available for qualifying students but you must complete a Need-based Early College Scholarship Application to be eligible. See your high school counselor for more information.

The chart below shows how the cost of WVU Parkersburg’s Early College program compares to costs at other major colleges in the state. Students and parents can save up to $23,760 in tuition by enrolling in Early College.

Early CollegeWVU ParkersburgWVUMarshall
Cost per 3-hour course
$150$540*$1,122*$1,052.25*

*Rates are subject to change. Additional fees may apply.

Information and Registration

Any 100-200 level course offered at WVU Parkersburg can be taken during this program if the student meets prerequisite requirements.

Visit www.wvup.edu/course-schedules to view available classes.

Classes meet according to WVU Parkersburg’s calendar, not county school calendars. This includes days on which local schools issue closings/delays for inclement weather, but WVU Parkersburg does not close.

Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to the college.

If you are planning to attend WVU Parkersburg after you have successfully completed high school or earned the equivalent score as part of a TSAC or GED program, you will need to complete a new admissions application as a first-time freshman.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Early College is a partnership program between WVU Parkersburg and area schools, including homeschools, allowing eligible students to take college-level courses to earn both high school AND college credit for the courses, with their school’s permission.

Early College courses will transfer with students to colleges all over the country. WVU Parkersburg is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the same body that accredits public institutions of higher education in West Virginia. The General Studies and Course Equivalency Transfer Agreement exists among public West Virginia institutions which helps students who desire to transfer to another institution. Students planning to attend a private or out-of-state college should check with that individual college for more information on course transfers. Most states support programs like Early College because they help students graduate sooner with less debt.

Early College students have the opportunity to complete general education courses while earning their high school diploma. Depending on a student’s academic program, they may be able to complete a semester or even an entire year of college credit. By participating in Early College, there is a significant savings on future tuition costs due to the reduced rates.

Students interested in participating in the Early College program should reach out to their counselor or school administrator. Your counselor can provide you with information on the application process and other aspects of the program. There are deadlines for registering each semester. Feel free to reach out to WVU Parkersburg for further questions at earlycollege@wvup.edu.

Yes, homeschool students can and do participate in the Early College program. Homeschool students must meet the same requirements and follow the same steps as all other Early College students. The homeschool administrator is responsible for confirming the student’s GPA status for program participation.

Application and Registration

The online Early College admission application must be completed for a student wanting to earn dual credit. You can complete the Early College Admission Application online or contact your high school counselor for assistance. You will need to know your Social Security Number to complete the application.

Early College students are not required to submit a high school transcript to meet admission requirements for this program. The counselor’s signature on their participation contract confirms the student’s eligibility for the program. Test scores may be required for certain courses.

FERPA is an acronym for The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment of 1974. FERPA is a federal law that describes how schools and colleges keep and/or distribute student information and records. Part of the law covers students under 18 and enrolled in public schools; the other part covers students enrolled in colleges and universities. The act was created to safeguard student privacy. FERPA rights belong to WVU Parkersburg students when they enroll as a college student. Because the student controls these rights, WVU Parkersburg will release a student’s educational records only with the consent of the student. Some examples of educational records include grade reports, transcripts and judicial reports. That means that, unlike in high school, parents will not have direct access to the above records without the student’s consent. Parents who wish to know their student’s grades must ask the student for that information. For more information about FERPA, please contact the Center for Student Services at 304-424-8310 or email records@wvup.edu.

While in Early College

Some Early College courses may be offered on your high school campus. If so, your counselor and the Early College Director will work together to help you with the registration process each semester. If you are attending Early College courses on the WVU Parkersburg campuses, please contact Tyler Hilbert at 304-424-8237 or thilbert@wvup.edu to set up an appointment.

Yes. After applying to WVU Parkersburg, you can find your ID number at findmyid.wvup.edu. This process will give you your WVUP ID Number, your Network ID, and your college email account. Early College students must learn how to access their Online Student Information System (OLSIS), Blackboard, and their email.

Students who attend Early College classes at their high school campus are not required to have a WVU Parkersburg issued photo ID, but are welcome to have one.

Early College students who wish to withdraw must submit a withdraw request through the Withdrawal Portal using their WVU Parkersburg username and password. Even if you change your schedule with your counselor at the high school, it is your responsibility to complete the withdraw process at WVU Parkersburg. There are financial penalties and deadlines related when withdrawing from a course that applies to all students.
Course withdrawals have a negative impact on students in their collegiate career. Potential problems could include poor academic standing or not meeting the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid eligibility.

Yes! If you successfully complete the appropriate courses, you can apply to graduate. There are two options for this process: transcription and diploma.

  • ● For the transcription option, the degree will be listed on your official WVU Parkersburg transcript. There is no fee for this option.
  • ● For the diploma option, you will receive a printed diploma from WVU Parkersburg and have the option to participate in the graduation ceremony. This option charges a non-refundable $25 fee.

For more information, please contact EarlyCollege@wvup.edu.

Early College students are held accountable for their academic performance in the Early College program. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 in their WVU Parkersburg courses is required for Early College students to continue in the program. Academic Standing is based on a student’s final grades, and there are three levels of academic standing: Good Standing, Academic Watch, and Academic Probation. Each academic standing indicates the academic progress and ensures success in the program.
Successfully completing courses and earning at least a 2.5 GPA are important as your performance in Early College courses impacts your eligibility for financial aid funding as a college student.

Regardless of if a student pays for their Early College courses themselves or receives a scholarship, these courses are included in the calculation of Satisfactory Academic Progress, usually referred to as SAP. If a student does not meet the SAP requirements detailed below, they will permanently lose their ability to qualify for federal financial aid to assist them in completing their education. Students must do their best to earn a passing grade in each course and avoid withdrawing from courses if at all possible.

  • Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college level courses taken
  • Complete at least 67% of college level courses attempted with a passing grade (no Fs, FIWs, or Ws)
  • Be on track to graduate with 150% of the credit hours for the degree program in which the student is enrolled (90 credit hours for Associate and 180 credit hours for Bachelor’s)

Yes! If you successfully complete the appropriate courses, you can apply to graduate. For more information, please contact earlycollege@wvup.edu.

Early College students are able to use the same services offered to our students, including the Library, Tutoring & Testing Center, Professional Advising Center and Career Services.

In the case of a delay or shift to remote learning due to inclement weather or power outages, WVU Parkersburg will notify students via a Rave Alert. Students are automatically registered for a Rave Alert with their WVU Parkersburg email address and the phone number provided on their application. Early College students need to check their college email and Blackboard for information as WVU Parkersburg does not follow any county school’s systems delays, closures, or shifts to remote learning.

Payment Information

Early College tuition is set at a flat rate of $50 per credit hour. Most courses are 3 credit hours, so it is $150 per course. There may be additional fees for some courses.

Paper bills are not distributed or mailed. Please contact the WVU Parkersburg Business Office during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) at 304-424-8223, for tuition deadlines and
a complete breakdown of all charges. Early College students are held to the same standards and responsibilities regarding payment deadlines as all students attending WVU Parkersburg. You may receive
a reminder notice for payment via USPS.

The Early College student is responsible for paying the cost of their Early College course(s). Please contact your counselor or principal to determine if your school district pays a portion of the tuition charges.

The deadlines for each semester can be found under Tuition and Fees at wvup.edu/tuition-fees/ or by contacting the WVU Parkersburg Business Office at 304-424-8223.

  • You can call the Business Office during regular business hours to pay over the phone or to
    discuss payment options.
  • Visit wvup.edu/payment.
    Choose the link at the bottom of the page that states: You may also pay your tuition by clicking here.
  •  Mail payment to:
    WVU Parkersburg
    ATTN: Business Office
    300 Campus Drive
    Parkersburg, WV 26104
    Note: The student’s name and/or WVUP ID number needs to be included on the memo line

Please have the student’s WVU Parkersburg Student ID Number (usually starts with the number 9 and has a total of nine digits) or their social security number when making payment.

Early College scholarships are available to students who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship application must be complete and submitted to WVU Parkersburg by the deadline.

This form is provided to students who have made tuition payments during the prior calendar year which may be eligible to deduct from your taxes. Please consult with a tax professional for more information.

After High School Graduation

If you plan to attend WVU Parkersburg after you graduate from high school, including the summer term after high school graduation, you will need to complete a new admissions application. Please select the Admissions Application option, as you have graduated high school and will be considered a first-time freshman.

You will need to request an official transcript to be sent to the WVU Parkersburg Records Office from every college university where you earned college credit. Your high school transcript cannot be used to transfer any college credit.

To request an official transcript to be sent to another college or university, you will need to complete WVU Parkersburg’s transcript request form.

If you plan to use federal or state financial aid funds to cover the cost of your tuition and fees, you will need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid at fafsa.ed.gov or by using the myStudentAid app. Please make sure to indicate on the FAFSA you will be a first-time freshman. Even though you have earned college credits, you have not attended college as a high school graduate.

If you attend WVU Parkersburg, please make sure to enter our school code 003828 on the FAFSA so we can receive your information.

Yes, if you successfully complete one three-credit course, you are considered a WVU Parkersburg alum. For more information about joining the WVU Parkersburg Alumni Association, email alumni@wvup.edu.

Transcript Requests

Transcripts can be ordered via the Web 24/7 through the National Student Clearinghouse. You can place as many orders as you like in...

LEARN MORE

APPLY NOW