Ocean County College is committed to supporting the excellence of our county high school students by providing access to Early College opportunities. Early College allows students the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school, increasing their preparedness for college and enhancing their resumes. In certain circumstances, these credits can count towards both state high school graduation requirements and for transferable college credit that students can take with them towards an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree. Discover the ways you can enroll in Early College!
Many students are ready for college coursework prior to graduating high school. Students who take advantage of Early College opportunities benefit in a variety of ways. Early College coursework can:
The Early College at OCC program allows high school students who are ready for college coursework the opportunity to take standard OCC college classes during the semester at any OCC location. High school students in all grade levels who wish to enroll as a college student may do so with the permission of their High School Counselor or Principal.
Register online using the step-by-step tutorial here!
Once you have completed your self-registration on Ocean Connect, your parent/guardian is required to complete the Parental Consent Form. This form is required for all high school students to secure their OCC courses.
The Early College at the High School program offers high school students the opportunity to earn credits during their regular high school day. These courses are set up through articulation agreements between OCC and individual school districts. Each course meets the standards and curricular requirements of a college class taught at OCC and are taught by high school teachers possessing academic credentials that meet college adjunct requirements.
Each participating district offers a different number of classes each year based on teacher eligibility and course content. Interested students can contact their school to find out if they are a partner, what classes are offered, and how to register.
Register online using the step-by-step tutorial here!
Once you have completed your self-registration on Ocean Connect, your parent/guardian is required to complete the Parental Consent Form. This form is required for all high school students to secure their OCC courses.
The Early College at OCC program allows homeschooled high school students who are ready for college coursework the opportunity to take standard OCC college classes during the semester at any OCC location. High school students in all grade levels who wish to enroll as a college student may do so with the permission of their parent/guardian.
Register online using the step-by-step tutorial here!
Once you have completed your self-registration on Ocean Connect, your parent/guardian is required to complete the Parental Consent Form. This form is required for all high school students to secure their OCC courses.
College Academy is a set curriculum for high achieving students to earn an Associate’s Degree (60+ credits) while still in high school. Courses are offered both at the high school and at OCC. College Academy is restricted to specific partner school districts who have articulations with OCC. Interested students should contact their school to find out if their district is a partner and how to register.
Please click on your participating High School below, for a list of available courses.
Ocean County College tuition is typically lower than most NJ four-year public or private colleges/universities for a similar course and Early College students benefit from an additional discounted rate. Ocean County high school students receive a Board of Trustees scholarship to reduce the cost of tuition. This can translate into tremendous savings in terms of both time and money.
Taking advantage of the Early College opportunity at OCC for up to 60 credits is comparable to receiving, on average, an $11,000 scholarship per year at a NJ Four Year Public College/University and a $35,000 scholarship per year at a NJ Four Year Private College/University.
This represents huge savings in not only money but also time. Students that graduate from college faster and get employed earlier have more earning potential, higher lifetime earnings, and are able to save more.
Below is an average cost comparison of NJ Public and Private Colleges and Universities as of 2018:
| Early College at OCC | NJ Four Year Public | NJ Four Year Private | |
| Tuition and Fees for 60 Credits (Cost of an Associate’s Degree – Half a Bachelors) | $6,000 | $28,000 | $76,000 |
Early College courses can save up to*:
*This estimate does not include room and board costs
Ocean County High School Students (Books Not Included): $126.00/semester hour (after applying Trustee Discount of $60.00)
Ocean County High School Students (Books Included): $146.00/semester hour (after applying Trustee Discount of $60.00)
For additional information, please visit our Tuition Rates & Fees for Full-Time and Part-Time Students Page.
Ways to pay for your Early College courses:
Apply for the Jump Start/Academy Grant to help pay for courses! – This form is currently closed.
| Start at OCC, graduate, transfer anywhere, & save thousands off the cost of your tuition! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
| 2 years at OCC | 2 years at OCC + 2 years at a 4-year public NJ college | 4 years at a 4-year public NJ college | 2 years at OCC + 2 years at a private NJ 4-year college | 4 years at a private NJ 4-year college |
*Utilizing 2019-2020 Tuition and Fees Schedule
*Does NOT Include Yearly Room and Board Costs at 4 Year (approx. add’l $10-$15k per year)
Early College students are held to the same standards as regular degree seeking Ocean County College students. Students should meet all college pre-requisite and readiness standards (Policy 5165) and have permission of their school counselors and parents prior to registration.
You should work with your school counselor to see which courses you qualify to take. Here is a link to the state of NJ list of Approved General Education Courses at OCC. This list offers a variety of courses that are highly transferable and are likely to be taken within the first two years of college, regardless of where you choose to attend.
Absolutely! Homeschooled students will follow the same procedures and guidelines for Early College!
Register online using the step-by-step tutorial here!
Once you have completed your self-registration on Ocean Connect, your parent/guardian is required to complete the Parental Consent Form. This form is required for all high school students to secure their OCC courses.
Home schooled students who wish for their parents/guardians to communicate with OCC are encouraged to fill out a FERPA form. Additional details regarding FERPA can be found on our FERPA Webpage.
Students are also encouraged to apply for the Early College Scholarship to help pay for courses!
If your high school is not a participating partner in the Early College at the High School program, you still have options to take college courses through the Early College at OCC program. This program allows high school students to enroll in standard OCC college classes at any OCC location, as long as you’re ready for college-level coursework. You’ll need permission from your high school counselor or principal to enroll.
Yes, many Dual Enrollment students do take more than one class at a time!
As long as your school and OCC approve the courses, and you feel confident managing the workload, you can enroll in multiple classes during the same semester. Some students choose to take a combination of classes at their high school and at OCC (online or in-person), depending on what’s available and what fits their goals.
Talk to your school counselor to see what options are open to you and to make sure you’re set up for success.
To register for your Dual Enrollment courses, follow the online registration tutorial video to guide you through the process on Ocean Connect. Once you’ve completed your self-registration, your parent/guardian will need to submit the required Parental Consent Form to secure your courses. This form is necessary for all high school students. Additionally, you can apply for the Foundation Early College Grant to help cover the cost of your courses. Click here to register and get started on your college journey!
Additional details regarding the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act can be found on our FERPA Webpage.
You do not need to take a placement test before enrolling in Dual Enrollment courses unless you choose to take Precalculus or higher. Please refer Policy 5161 for additional detail.
Yes, you can drop a course if you change your mind. As long as you do so before the official drop deadline, you will receive a 100% refund and will not owe any tuition for the course. Check your participating high school’s page (Link to be included) for the specific date that applies to you. To drop a course, log into Ocean Connect or contact the Early College team at earlycollege@ocean.edu. Be sure to act before the deadline to avoid any charges.
Once dual-enrollment students graduate high school, they must apply again to take classes as an undergraduate student. Simply complete the online application to OCC at the Apply Now page and any of the credits earned in high school will be applied to the major you choose. Academic Advising will assist you with making the best course choices for your degree.
| You can take Early College classes through OCC in a few different ways: 1. At Your High School: If your high school partners with OCC through the Early College Program, you may be able to take OCC courses right at your school during the regular day. These classes are taught by high school teachers who meet college-level teaching standards. 2. At OCC (On-Campus or Online): High school students of any grade level—including homeschooled students—can take standard OCC college courses during the semester at any OCC location or online. To get started, you’ll need permission from your high school counselor, principal, or parent/guardian. After registering on Ocean Connect using this step-by-step tutorial, your parent/guardian must complete the required Parental Consent Form to secure your enrollment. |
Dual Enrollment courses at Ocean County College are offered at a significantly reduced tuition rate for Ocean County high school students. The cost is $126.00 per semester hour (books not included) or $146.00 per semester hour (books included). There are no hidden fees beyond the listed tuition rates. Payments can be made easily online through the student’s Ocean Connect portal under the Student Finance tab, where you can pay in full or set up a payment plan (if available). You can also visit www.mycollegepaymentplan.com/Ocean for additional payment options, or refer to the Paying for College and Tuition Rates & Fees pages on OCC’s website for more details.
All credits earned during your time at OCC may be transferred to any public college or university in New Jersey and could be transferred to out of state public and private schools depending on their transfer of college credit policies. Please be sure to check each school’s transfer of credit policies carefully and plan accordingly when considering what Early College courses to take and where you are applying after high school.
New Jersey offers a comprehensive search engine, NJ Transfer, that allows you to compare courses offered at one institution and how it will transfer to another. This makes it simple to see which of your courses will transfer where depending on what school you want to go to. State colleges and universities in New Jersey are bound to the Comprehensive Statewide Transfer Agreement for students earning an associate’s degree.
For other states, you will have to confirm what credits will transfer with an admissions counselor.
Most college admission pages will specify that even if you are enrolled in dual-credit courses at a collegiate institution, you will not be considered a transfer student. If you can’t find this information readily during the application process, check with the admissions department at the schools you are applying to.
Yes! As a Dual Enrollment student, you are earning college credit through Ocean County College, and those credits appear on an official OCC college transcript.
If you ever need to send your transcript to another college or university—for admissions, transfer credit, or scholarship purposes—you can request it directly through OCC. The process is quick and easy.
Here’s the link to request your transcript.
It’s a good idea to keep track of your OCC Student ID and login information so you can access your records later on. Let me know if you want help finding your student account details!
Dual Enrollment classes through the Early College at the High School program are the same classes students are already taking in their high school. This means that they will have the same teacher, schedule, and classroom. The difference is that through a partnership with OCC, students have the option to earn college credit for those courses.
These classes have been reviewed by OCC to make sure they meet college-level standards, and the high school teachers have been approved to teach them as college-level instructors. Students get the added benefit of building a college transcript and getting a head start on their college education.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a United States federal law that governs access to educational information and records. This act protects a student who has reached 18 years of age or is attending a college at any age (including dual-enrolled high school students).
For this, complete the Authorization to Release FERPA Protected Information (PDF) form.
Additional details regarding FERPA and Student Proxy can be found on our FERPA Webpage.
As a Dual Enrollment student at Ocean County College, you have full access to a wide range of free student support services—just like any other OCC student. Whether you need help with tutoring, writing, study strategies, or academic coaching, these resources are here to support you throughout your college course.
You can explore all the available options here. It’s a great idea to reach out early—OCC is here to help you stay on track and feel confident in your college coursework.
To create an Ocean Connect account, you must apply to OCC beforehand at go.ocean.edu/apply. Ocean Connect is the student portal for all things OCC where you can make payments, view courses, check out clubs and organizations, access your OCC e-mail, and more! Ocean Connect is located at www.ocean.edu under the “My Ocean” link in the upper right-hand corner. Your initial login is usually:
Username: firstname_lastname
Password: OCC Student ID Number
Get help planning your college schedule with OCC’s new Course Search!
The Course Search utilizes a keyword search to find on-campus courses, descriptions, and prerequisites. Once you know your prerequisites, you can take the classes you need first and prepare for future semesters.
Note: For dual enrollment courses at your high school, visit the Participating High Schools section.
OCC is dedicated to helping its students succeed by offering them the resources and tools necessary. Below is a list of links you may find helpful during your time at OCC and when preparing for your next steps.
Campus Related Links:
Transfer Related Links:
732-255-0400 x534 earlycollege@ocean.edu
Student Enrollment Building #9
College Drive – PO Box 2001
Toms River, NJ 08754