Admissions Policies
The College’s open, and rolling admissions policy seeks to be consistent with the purposes and philosophy of the College. With a high school diploma or high school equivalency (GED/TASC) as a basic requirement, all applicants will be admitted to a program offered by the College. Certain programs have special academic requirements, and the decision concerning admissions to these programs is based upon an evaluation of the applicant’s academic and/or special achievements to date. The final decision rests with the Office of Admissions, and alternate programs will be offered to those students who do not meet these special requirements. Admission to North Country Community College is determined without regard to the applicant’s race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status.
Residents from our sponsoring area of Essex and Franklin Counties are given priority for admission to all programs if their completed application is received by January 1st. Although sponsorship area residents are given priority in admissions, students from other areas are encouraged and welcomed to apply.
CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS
MATRICULATED STUDENTS
Matriculated status is assigned to those students who have been accepted by the College into a degree or certificate program. A Full-Time student is enrolled in 12 or more credit hours per semester. A Part-Time student is enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours per semester. Students are further classified as follows:
- Freshman: fewer than 24 completed credit hours
- Sophomore: 24 or more completed credit hours
NON-MATRICULATED STUDENTS (Non Degree Seeking)
Non-Matriculated status is assigned to those students who are not active candidates for a degree. This status may also be assigned to students whose previous high school and/or college record indicates achievement below the standards set for matriculation. All students must matriculate into a program after completing 24 credits of study unless permission is granted from the Vice President for Academic Affairs, or their designee. Students age 16 or 17 may register with the consent and signature of a parent or guardian.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Matriculated students must complete and submit NCCC’s Application for Admission. Applications may be obtained directly from the Enrollment Management Office at P.O. Box 89, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, through the College website, www.nccc.edu, or by emailing The Office of Admissions at admissions@nccc.edu. Applicants must submit all official transcripts of previous academic work, i.e. high school transcript, GED, DD214, and/or college transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions. The results of standardized tests such as the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) may be submitted but are not a requirement for admission. Those planning to transfer to a four-year college should give attention to such examinations where necessary.
NON-MATRICULATED STUDENTS (Non Degree Seeking)
Students not seeking a degree from NCCC may register for courses at the Registrar’s Office on a non-matriculated basis. The Registrar’s Office is available to assist students in establishing their educational goals and completing registration procedures. Upon the completion of 24 credits at the College, students will be required to matriculate into a program of study unless permission is granted from the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students age 16 or 17 may register with the consent and signature of a parent or guardian.
Should a non-matriculated student desire to work toward a degree at a later date, he or she must apply for admission. If the student is accepted to matriculated status, all related courses successfully completed will apply toward a degree.
ADMISSIONS HOMESCHOOLED STUDENTS
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK POLICY
Under New York State law, an institution of higher education may admit as matriculated students only persons who have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent. Because of this requirement, the State University of New York has established a specific admissions policy for home-schooled students. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that home-schooled students are treated fairly, yet in accordance with the requirements of state and federal law. The policy set forth below deals exclusively with the criteria for eligibility to be considered as an applicant for admission to either a state-operated campus or a community college under the program of the State University of New York. Once eligibility for consideration is established, the applicant also must meet any campus-specific admissions requirements (i.e. high school grade point average, SAT I, ACT, SAT II scores, essay, letters of reference, extracurricular activities.
APPLICANTS BEYOND THE AGE OF COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
Maximum compulsory school attendance age is reached when the student has completed the school year in which he or she turned 16 or such older maximum age as the board of education of the school district may designate for required school attendance pursuant to section 3205(3) of Education Law. These home-schooled students will be eligible for further consideration as applicants for admission to matriculated status if they can provide either 1) a letter from the superintendent of the school district in which the student resides, attesting to the student’s completion of a program of home instruction meeting the requirements of Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, or 2) a passing score on the general comprehensive exam (GED) for the state high school equivalency diploma (and the diploma itself when available). When the student has reached the maximum compulsory school attendance age, he or she is eligible to take the GED test. A student may not take the GED test until July 1st of the year in which he or she turned 16.
A diploma issued by a correspondence school that is not accredited or registered in the state is not acceptable as the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma.
APPLICANTS UNDER THE AGE OF COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
These home-schooled students will be eligible for consideration as applicants for admission to matriculated status only if the student can provide a letter from the school district in which the student resides attesting to the student’s completion of a program of home instruction that is the substantial equivalent of a four-year high school course of instruction and meets the requirements of Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.
APPLICANTS FROM OUT OF STATE WHO ARE BEYOND THE AGE OF COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
Home-schooled students beyond the age of compulsory attendance who are not residents of New York at the time of application will be eligible for further consideration as applicants for admission if they provide 1) a letter or other documentation from officials in the school district of their residence attesting to their completion of a program of home instruction meeting the requirements of the state of residence for the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma or 2) a passing score on the general comprehensive examination (GED) for the state high school equivalency diploma (and the diploma itself when available). A student may take the GED test after one month of residence in the state.
APPLICANTS FROM OUT OF STATE WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
Home-schooled students under the age of compulsory attendance who are not residents of New York at the time of application will be eligible for further consideration as applicants for admission only if they provide a letter or other documentation from officials in the school district of their residence attesting to their completion of a program of home instruction meeting the requirements of the state of residence for the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma.
CORRESPONDENCE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
The New York State Education Department does not recognize correspondence high schools as registered high schools. Applicants with high school diplomas from correspondence schools must earn a high school equivalency diploma (GED/TASC) or complete the guidelines as laid out in the SUNY Policy for Homeschooled Students.
HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA (GED/TASC)
An individual who has not graduated from high school or earned a high school equivalency diploma (GED/TASC) may apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of High School Equivalency Programs and Testing, for a high school equivalency by successfully completing twenty-four (24) credit hours of college course work and demonstrating satisfactory progress toward a degree. Six specific areas of distribution are required within the 24 credit hours. Interested parties should contact the Registrar’s Office or the Academic Affairs Office for further information. Please note: Courses numbered below 100 (remedial), physical education, college skills or freshman seminar courses will not be accepted toward the twenty-four credits. Forms for application to the State Education Department are available from the Registrar’s Office.