As a homeschool parent, you are considered the school counselor for your Early College Student. Below you will find the information that you need to ensure that your student has a successful Early College experience.

Why Early College?

We are so excited that you are interested in seeing your student get an early start to college and career with Early College at Chattanooga State Community College. By making the choice to start college early, your student is on the fast track to college success while also completing high school requirements for graduation. Homeschool students can attend college classes on any Chattanooga State campus and even online!

In addition, with the Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant, Tennessee High School Juniors and Seniors can get scholarship funding to use toward tuition in dual enrollment courses!

Students who participate in Early College:

• Accelerate their college career in a comfortable and familiar environment.

• Enroll in challenging classes that are affordable and close to home.

• Earn college credits that transfer to most four-year universities.

• Gain an understanding of the rigor of college work as well as learn about how to interact with college faculty.

• Increase their confidence in their ability to be successful in college.

• Access college resources, facilities and services such as college advising, career counseling, library and research databases, and math and reading tutoring labs.

• Take a wider range of courses than are offered in high school.

• Learn from highly qualified teaching faculty who meet the criteria of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Chattanooga State offers a wide range of options to meet your student’s educational needs and goals. You can find more information on our website at www.chattanoogastate.edu/early-college. Feel free to call us or stop by the CAT building to visit us as well!

Is My Student Qualified?

Early College courses become part of a student’s permanent college transcript.  Potential students must demonstrate maturity, responsibility, and initiative in addition to being academically prepared for success!  Course qualifications are varied.  Students need to meet standardized test score minimums and any pre-requisite requirements in order to register for most courses. 

Below, you will find requirements for some popular Early College courses. A more extensive listing of score requirements may be viewed in the Early College Cut Scores .

If your student requires Accuplacer testing, they should register here: https://www2.registerblast.com/Chattanoogastate/Exam/List  When your student is ready to take their Accuplacer placement test, stop by the CAT Building Office 73 to pick up your testing ticket. (MAP OF CAMPUS - https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/campus-map)

10 Steps to Admission/Enrollment Homeschool Link

Chattanooga State Community College Course Catalog: https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/academics/schedules

Sending Transcripts and Supporting Documentation: Be sure to include the student A# in all communications. Send documentation to submit@chattanoogastate.edu and earlycollege@chattanoogastate.edu

Dropping Courses: The drop form to drop a course before classes start is located here:  bit.ly/ECDrop . After classes have started, you must submit a signed drop form. Keep in mind that dropping a course may have financial aid implications. Contact us in the Early College Office to discuss your options.

Common Admissions Forms: https://www.chattanoogastate.edu/admissions/forms  Send all forms and documents to submit@chattanoogastate.edu AND earlycollege@chattanoogastate.edu with the student A# included

Dual Enrollment Grant Information:

• Students register for DEG here: www.tn.gov/collegepays/tsac-student-portal.html
• The DEG is available for any high school Junior or Senior with legal residence in the state of Tennessee for at least a year.
• In order to continue using the DEG, students must maintain a college GPA of 2.75.
• The DEG funds are applied for 1 course per semester.
• The Enhanced Grant will allow students to use DEG funding for 2 classes in one semester. In order to qualify for Enhanced Grant, homeschool students must have a 21 ACT composite score.
• TSAC Phone Number: 1-800-342-1663 Students must call to correct mistakes or rest the password for their account or grant application
• Students must apply every year, but funding does not start over every year.

DEG Payment and Chattanooga State Costs:

* Common fees are Math Fees ($65) and Online Course Fees ($25). Books can range from $40 to $200 per course.

**Please be advised that some Math and Science courses offered are 4 hour courses which will cost $664 plus books and fees.

Chattanooga State Bookstore: https://www.bkstr.com/chattstatestore/home

Student IT Help Line for Technology Assistance: 423-697-5595

Bursars Office:  423-697-4732