Early College Program
Associate's Degree with HCC

 The Early College Program was established in 2023 as a partnership between Christian County Public Schools (CCPS) and Hopkinsville Community College.  CCPS sophomores and juniors have the opportunity to earn their Associate's Degree through Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) by participating in the Early College Program.

Students will earn a credit combination of high school credits, dual credit credits, and dual enrollment credits*.  Dual enrollment credits* are not part of the high school transcript.  

HCC tuition and fees may be covered by Work Ready Scholarships, Dual Credit Scholarships, and self-pay.  CCPS, nor HCC, will cover the cost of the Early College Program.          

A HCC Early College Associate of Arts Degree Pathway sample is shown below.

*Helpful Terms

• Dual Credit - A student is enrolled in a course which allows them to earn high school credit and college credit simultaneously.  This course may be taught on a college campus or on a high school campus, but it will be in conjunction with a college or university.   Dual credit courses must comply with KRS 158.007(8) which defined dual credit as "a college-level course of study developed in accordance with KRS 164.098 in which a high school student receives credit from both the high school and postsecondary institution in which the student is enrolled upon completion of a single class or designated program of study." 

• Dual Enrollment - A student is enrolled in both the high school and a college or university.  The student may not receive high school credit for dual enrollment course work. Courses taken during the summer are examples of Dual Enrollment.

https://education.ky.gov/educational/AL/dc/Pages/default.aspx

For more information please see your high school counselor for additional information on the Early College Program.