ARCHIVED: Early College

Eligibility Questions

1. Who is eligible for free tuition?
2. Who decides eligibility for Maine students?
3. I am homeschooled. Am I eligible?
4. I pay tuition to attend school in Maine. Am I eligible?
5. I am a freshman or sophomore. Am I eligible?
6. I have a GPA just under 3.0, can I still take a course?
7. I am a graduating senior. Can I still take summer courses?
8. I attend high school outside of the state of Maine. Can I still take courses?

1. A Maine student must:

• • Be a full-time high school student
  • Have a recommendation from the high school counselor
  • Have the consent of their parent or guardian
  • Have a B or better academic average or permission from the high school guidance counselor
  • Be a resident of the state of Maine
  • Meet academic course prerequisites, if any
  • Be attending a state-eligible secondary school or state-approved homeschool

2. For free tuition, eligibility guidelines are determined by the Maine Department of Education.

3. Homeschool students are eligible if they have filed a letter of intent to homeschool with the State of Maine. Parents will approve applications in lieu of a school counselor. An ExplorEC guide for parents is available. If parents approve applications for a student who is not registered with the state, parents will be responsible for tuition costs at the special Early College rate.

4. If you pay tuition to attend any school in the State of Maine, you are eligible to take courses at the special Early College rate. You must meet the academic criteria mentioned above.

5. The Department of Education does allow qualified freshmen and sophomores to access Early College funding through the Aspirations Program. Maine’s Public Universities will follow DOE guidelines, but priority will be given to juniors and seniors.

6. The Department of Education suggests students must maintain a minimum secondary school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent of a “B” average unless the University grants a waiver. Juniors and seniors with a GPA below 3.0 or “B” average may be granted a waiver with the support of the school counselor and Early College Office.

7. Seniors who are graduating from Maine public high schools are eligible for tuition-free courses that start prior to their graduation date. (May term and early June).  All other graduating seniors (private schools, out-of-state, or international) that are attending UMM in the fall are eligible for the Accepted Student Early College Program.

8. The Early College program allows high school students from out-of-state (non-Maine residents) to take college courses. Out-of-state students pay a discounted rate of $138.25 /credit hour. (Compared to the non-resident rate of $540/credit hour and the NEBHE rate of $480/credit hour) Students will choose out-of-state as their high school in the ExplorEC portal. To be eligible an out-of-state student must:

• • Be a full-time high school student
  • Have a recommendation from the high school counselor (form link will be sent manually)
  • Have the consent of their parent or guardian
  • Have a B or better academic average or permission from the high school guidance counselor
  • Meet academic course prerequisites, if any