Smiling young woman standing in front of the Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center on NMC's Front Street campus

Start college in high school!

By dual enrolling in college classes, you can get ahead on the credits you need for a degree at little or no cost. Your local school district pays the tuition. (Check with your high school as school policies vary.)

You can dual enroll as early as your sophomore year, take up to 10 classes and choose from more than 100 courses.

Whether you plan to stay at NMC or transfer to a 4-year program, dual enrolling can help you achieve your college and career goals.

Eligibility

You can dual enroll as early as your sophomore year, and choose from more than 100 classes.

Each high school handles dual enrollment differently and NMC defers to each individual high school as to whether or not a student is eligible for dual enrollment. Check with your high school counselor to learn if dual enrollment is an option for you.

Steps to dual enroll:

Apply to NMC
1. Select student type at “High School - Dual Enrolled”
2. Select Academic Program as “Not pursuing a degree at NMC”
3. Step-by-step instructions (pdf)
4. NMC requires a dual enrolled student to reapply each semester they take classes
Ask your high school counselor to email your transcript to admissions@nmc.edu or use parchment.com. NMC cannot accept transcripts directly from the student or parent.
How to choose classes to take at NMC:
1. Consider taking classes that fulfill general education requirements at most any college or university you may attend in the future
  1. A helpful resource known as the Michigan Transfer Agreement, or MTA, can guide students toward classes that are highly transferable within Michigan colleges and universities. To view the schools that accept the MTA visit mitransfer.org.
2. Or you can explore a career pathway that interests you. Many of these classes also fulfill requirements for the MTA, if you change your mind about your career path! Explore college pathways on this page.
Submit an Enrollment Approval Form to request classes
1. You can access the Enrollment Approval Form here.
2. Submitted forms are emailed to the high school counselor and principal, who will approve (or not approve) the classes selected.
3. Choose back-up class options in case your first choice(s) are full or unavailable.
4. If you decide to take different classes, a new enrollment approval form is required.
5. Submitting this form does not register you in any NMC classes
6. Questions about the form? Talk to your high school counselor or contact Admissions at (231) 995-1054 or admissions@nmc.edu.
Complete New Student Orientation
1. Before you register for your first semester classes, you must complete a 23-minute new student orientation online.
2. Returning dual enrolled student? Orientation is not required again.
Register for your NMC classes
1. Once your high school has reviewed your submitted form, you will be emailed updates from NMC Admissions when you can register for your class(es).
2. After you are admitted to NMC, set up access to your myNMC Student Portal by contacting the Technology Help Desk at (231) 995-3020 or use their online chat.
3. Register for your class(es) in your myNMC student account. Need help? Contact Admissions at admissions@nmc.edu or (231) 995-1054.
4. A note about accelerated classes: We don’t recommend dual enrolled students take an accelerated course, in which material is taught in a shorter, more condensed format
Order textbooks
1. Many NMC instructors use free open source textbook materials or low-cost electronic auto access books. If your class requires an auto access book, you will receive an email from the NMC Bookstore to your NMC email with the link to access your textbook.
2. You can also use the Bookstore website to view required textbooks and materials for your classes.
3. Your high school may pay for your textbooks, check with your high school to understand their policies.

Compare and save

See how Dual Enrollment and Early College compare to taking AP courses here.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can home-schooled high school students dual enroll?
- Yes! In this scenario the parent is responsible for payment. The student follows the same steps above to get started. Contact Admissions at (231) 995-1054 or admissions@nmc.edu if you have additional questions.
Can I dual enroll for multiple semesters?
- Yes, but you must reapply each semester and submit a new Enrollment Approval form.
How many classes can I take via dual enrollment?
- Your school district may pay for a maximum of ten classes for dual enrollment, during your entire high school career.
Is tuition free to me?
- Most students will get all tuition and fees paid by their school district, for approved classes. Some students who live outside of Grand Traverse County may need to make up a small difference based upon their school district’s policy.
What if I don’t live in Grand Traverse County?
- A new tuition rate of $160 per contact hour for students from outside Grand Traverse County is expected to cover the tuition and fee bill for three- and four-credit classes, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for most students, except for books and course fees, where applicable, such as lab courses. Read more here.

Start college in high school!