ESSENCE Program

The ESSENCE program is designed to give high academic achievers the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school. ESSENCE stands for Early Support for Students to Enter College Education. Through the ESSENCE program, Washington County residents receive a 50% reduction on HCC’s regular in-county tuition rate for the first 12 credits. Through the ESSENCE II program, out-of-county or out-of-state residents receive a 25% reduction in tuition rates they would be charged based on residency.

ESSENCE students may take classes at HCC’s main campus and/or in dual enrollment classes offered at area high schools. The dual enrollment classes are those that award both high school credit and college credit.

Students Eligibility

All students must comply with the following guidelines.

1. Have a 2.5 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).
2. Be at least 16 years old.
3. Have the support of parents/guardians.
4. Have the support of the high school counseling office and the principal.
5. Maryland students must be on track to complete all Maryland State High School Assessments in core and specialized courses related to their area of study.
6. Maryland students must have established a high school career plan to be a University of Maryland Completer and/or a Career Technology Education Completer.

* January graduates may take ESSENCE courses in the spring semester and receive the discount if they have a 2.5 CGPA. Those students who do not have a 2.5 CGPA will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

* Graduating seniors can receive ESSENCE discount rates for the summer semester if the classes they are taking begin before the date the student is to graduate.

Admission

Students seeking admission into the ESSENCE program must:

1. Fill out an application for admission for HCC available online, in the HCC Admissions and Registration Office or in your high school counseling center.
2. Forward high school transcripts and SAT/ACT scores (if taken) to the Admissions and Registration Office at HCC.
3. Fill out an HCC ESSENCE Program (Early Entry) Application Form. The form can be found in your high school counseling center or in the Admissions and Registration Office at HCC.
4. Take the Academic Skills Assessment tests at HCC. Appointments can be made to test by clicking here. Exemptions to Placement Testing: 550 or above on the SAT mathematics and SAT critical reading; 21 on the ACT mathematics or ACT English; Completion of college level courses in mathematics and English.
5. Schedule an appointment at HCC to register by calling 301-790-2800 ext. 238. ESSENCE students can not register on-line. An HCC representative will visit the college classes offered at the high schools to complete the registration process.

Financial Requirements

Students are responsible for payment of all applicable tuition and fees. All course fees and book expenses are the responsibility of the student for courses taken on the HCC main campus. Fees and book expenses for courses taught at high schools for dual enrollment credit will be specified on a course by course basis.

Financially needy students attending WCPS may be eligible to receive funds to cover the remaining 50% tuition with an ESSENCE Scholarship through the HCC Foundation and the Community Foundation of Washington County. The scholarship deadlines are early November for spring and early June for fall. Please check with the Office of Institutional Advancement at HCC for exact deadlines for the scholarship. Scholarship applications can be found at each county high school, on the HCC website, or in the Office of Institutional Advancement at HCC.

Dual Enrollment Credit Award

Upon completion of a course with an awarded passing grade, consistent with the grading policies at HCC and local high schools, the high school student will receive both the designated high school and college credits. College credits WILL NOT be part of a student’s high school GPA, unless they are taught at a high school and are specifically designated as dual enrollment.