Early Enrollment
On The Path To A Great Career
The Early Enrollment program offers qualifying high school seniors the opportunity to complete their freshman year at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology at the same time.
Early Enrollment is a fully immersive program where students can start earning credits in the majority of our high-demand, high-wage majors during their senior year of high school.
These innovative, technical-based majors train students for many different job opportunities, providing knowledge and skills that help graduates excel in their lives—professionally and personally. Many graduates receive multiple job offers before receiving their degree and have options to pursue higher degrees at four-year colleges and universities.
How does Early Enrollment differ from College in the High School?
Early enrollment requires a student to take all of their classes at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Early enrollers are full time college students. They would not report to their home high school at any point during the school day.
Our Early Enrollment Program: the Details
Classes
The average Early Enrollment student will be in class Monday through Friday. The majority of our classes take place during the day. Students can expect to take between 4-6 major-specific courses and 2-3 academic courses a semester.
Community
Early Enrollment students are part of the campus community and may participate in any on-campus club or organization. However, they are not eligible for on-campus housing or intercollegiate athletics.
In addition, early enrollers are responsible for their own transportation to and from campus. The college does allow for freshmen to have cars on campus. The cost of a parking permit is $15/year.
Cost and Financial Aid
Tuition for Early Enrollment students is 50% of the cost of full tuition for traditional students.
Early Enrollment students are eligible for financial aid, including the Stevens Grant, which provides free tuition to qualifying students based on financial need. Students are also eligible for scholarships provided by the Thaddeus Stevens Foundation and Federal Direct loan.
Participating School Districts
Students within the following school districts (SD) and private schools are eligible for early enrollment:
Chester County
- Oxford Area SD
Lancaster County
- Cocalico SD
- Columbia Borough SD
- Conestoga Valley SD
- Donegal SD
- ELANCO SD (Garden Spot HS)
- Elizabethtown SD
- Ephrata SD
- Hempfield SD
- Lampeter- Strasburg SD
- Manheim Central SD
- Manheim Township SD
- Penn Manor SD
- Pequea Valley SD
- The School District of Lancaster
- Solanco SD
- Warwick SD
Lebanon County
- Cornwall Lebanon SD
York County
- Dallastown Area SD
- Eastern York SD
- Northeastern SD
- Red Lion SD
- South Eastern SD
In addition, the following schools also participate in Early Enrollment:
- Dayspring Christian Academy
- Ephrata Mennonite School
- Hinkletown Mennonite School
- Lancaster Catholic HS
- Lancaster County Christian School
- Lancaster Mennonite HS
- La Academia
Application Process and Timeline
Students cannot apply for early enrollment until their junior year of high school.
Early Enrollment Application
In addition to the application, we require:
- Application waiver
- Official high school transcript – the minimum GPA to be considered for early enrollment is a 2.5
- Two reference forms – one reference form from a teacher and one reference form from a counselor
Additional testing may be required for some applicants. Testing would be requested by the admissions office.
The application process will close on March 1, 2023.
Offers of admission for early enrollment will be released the week of April 3, 2023.
Contact Us
For more information or assistance with our early enrollment program, requirements, or the application process, please contact:
Megan Wysock
Associate Director of Admissions and Early Enrollment Coordinator
Phone: 717-299-7773
Email:
For information or assistance with the financial aid process and what early enrollers qualify for, please contact:
Emily Smoker
Director of Financial Aid
Phone: 717-391-7206
Email: