When you begin your application for admission, you will be asked to identify what
type of student you are and specify your educational goal. Selecting an accurate option
is important. Please refer to the summaries below if you aren’t sure which option
to choose.
What type of student are you?
Credit-Seeking Student
Credit-Seeking Students are interested in earning college credit, typically working
toward a degree, certificate or other credential. Student goals that qualify as credit-seeking:
Earn an associate degree.
Earn a certificate.
Transfer to a four-year institution after Harper.
Take one or more classes to transfer to a college/university that you currently attend.
This includes summer-only students.
Pursue a personal interest or professional objective.
Enroll in Harper’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program.
High school students who are not participating in Dual Credit and who want to earn
college credit while still enrolled in high school.
High School Partnership/Dual Credit
High School Partnership students are interested in earning both high school and college
credit while still in high school.
High school partnerships are also known as Dual Credit.
Students can take college-level courses on the Harper campus or at their high school.
Courses vary by school district.
Non-Credit Seeking Students are interested in classes through Adult Education Development
(AED) or Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programs.
Non-credit classes are not applicable toward a credit-bearing degree or credential.
CPE courses are intended for students who want to learn a new skill or upgrade their
existing skills for a current or future job.
AED programs allow a student to earn a high school equivalency diploma or learn basic
English.
Note: Students interested in personal enrichment courses are invited to explore and
register on Harper’s Community Education website.
Returning Student
Returning Students are former Harper students who are returning to Harper to continue
their education for a degree, certificate or as a student at large. FormerDual Credit students should apply as a returning student.
What is your educational goal?
After you indicate your student type, you’ll be asked to for your goal.
Credit-seeking students will specify one of the following:
Students in this category plan to earn a certificate at Harper College. To be eligible
for Federal Financial Aid, students must pursue a certificate program that totals
at least 16 credit hours. View complete steps to enroll for certificate seeking students.
Student at Large
Students in this category:
Plan to take one or more classes at Harper to transfer to a college/university that
you currently attend.
Pursue a personal interest or professional objective.
Enroll in Harper’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program. (Students in this category
are not eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid.)
Students who enroll only for summer courses are considered Students at Large.
Students in this category plan to earn college credit at Harper College while still
enrolled in high school. Students in this category are not participating in a high
school partnership/dual credit program.
International Students
Students in this category plan to earn college credit while studying in the U.S. as
an international student on an F-1 visa.
Non High School Graduate
Students in this category are no longer enrolled in high school and have not yet earned
a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma (also known as a GED®).
High School Partnership/Dual Credit will need to select the semester in which they plan to enroll.
Non-credit students will select one of the following:
Adult Education Development (AED)
Students in this category are interested in Adult Education Development (AED) programs
to earn a high school equivalency diploma or learn basic English.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
Students in this category plan to take Continuing Professional Education (CPE) course(s)
to move ahead in a current job or train for a new career.
Returning students will select one of the following:
Students in this category plan to earn a certificate at Harper College. To be eligible
for Federal Financial Aid, students must pursue a certificate program that totals
at least 16 credit hours. View complete steps to enroll for certificate seeking students.
Student at Large
Students in this category:
Plan to take one or more classes at Harper to transfer to a college/university that
you currently attend.
Pursue a personal interest or professional objective.
Enroll in Harper’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program. (Students in this category
are not eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid.)
Students who enroll only for summer courses are considered Students at Large.
