Admission Requirements

Regular Student Admission

Any applicant who has graduated from an accredited high school or has successfully passed the General Educational Development (GED) examination is eligible to enroll at Highland Community College. If the applicant meets neither of these requirements, admission as a special student should be sought.

All students applying for regular admission must:

• Complete an application for admissions at highlandcc.edu/apply

• Submit a current high school or GED transcript and a complete official transcript upon graduation.

• Submit official college transcripts from each college attended.

Note: Only transcripts sent electronically or by mail or fax directly to HCC from the issuing institution are considered official.

• Submit ACT/SAT scores OR arrange to take the appropriate placement test.

• Comply with Tuberculosis Screening Requirement (excludes online-only students). highlandcc.edu/pages/tuberculosis-screening-questionnaire See “Additional Admissions Requirement for Face-to-Face Classroom Settings.”

Regular students are eligible to receive federal financial aid and may earn a certificate and or degree, and may be eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics. International students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Note: Students not submitting all official transcripts from all previously attended institutions prior to completion of entering term will be changed to “Special Student” for the next term and not be eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Special Student Admissions*

A person may be admitted to Highland Community College as a special student if the student meets one of the following criteria:

• Is not seeking an approved certificate or degree from Highland

• Is taking classes for personal enrichment

• Is a high school/home school sophomore, junior or senior with permission from the high school/home school administrator

• Is a high school/home school student enrolled in an approved gifted program with permission from the high school/home school administrator

• Is taking classes to transfer to another school

• Comply with Tuberculosis Screening Requirement (excludes online-only students). highlandcc.edu/pages/tuberculosis-screening-questionnaire See “Additional Admissions Requirement for Face-to-Face Classroom Settings.”

*Special students are not required to submit transcripts, are not eligible for federal financial aid and most institutional aid, are not eligible to earn a certificate or degree from Highland, and are not eligible to compete in intercollegiate athletics. Student services will be available upon the student’s request. For purposes of placement, special students may be required to submit placement scores, college transcripts, or be assessed prior to enrollment. Special students taking face-to-face classes must comply with “Additional Admissions Requirement for Face-to-Face Classroom Settings.”

Changing Status from Special Student to Regular Student 

Concurrent Students and other Special Students who wish to change their status from special student to regular student must contact the Highland Campus Admissions Office at admissions@highlandcc.edu.

Transfer Students

A transfer student must meet all of the regular student admissions requirements. HCC reserves the right to determine which transfer courses will fulfill graduation or departmental program requirements. A maximum of forty-seven (47) credit hours may be transferred to HCC and applied toward a degree, including hours transferred from other institutions as well as qualifying CLEP test credits.

Prior to registration, students transferring to HCC are required to submit official transcripts of all credits earned at other institutions. The Registrar will evaluate successfully completed coursework from accredited institutions. If accepted as satisfying degree requirements, these transfer hours will be counted towards graduation and will be counted in the calculation of the GPA. A transfer student must complete sixteen (16) credit hours at Highland Community College to be eligible for graduation.

Repeating a Course

Highland Community College will transcript both the original and any repeated courses. The highest will be used in computing the cumulative grade point average. 

International Applicants 

For purposes of admission, international applicants are defined as all persons who are not citizens nor permanent residents of the United States.  An international applicant must meet ALL of the following requirements. All documents and payments must be submitted by October 15th for spring semester and June 15th for fall semester.

1. Submission of an HCC application for admissions highlandcc.edu/pages/apply (at least three months prior to the beginning of the semester for which application is being made).

2. Submission of official transcripts from all secondary schools and universities attended. A student must have a 3.0 minimum GPA on a 4.0 scale in secondary school.

a.  If English translation is needed: Students must have their foreign credits evaluated by an accredited, independent agency such as: World Education Services (wes.org), Educational Perspectives (educational-perspectives.org), or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ece.org).

b.  If English translation is not needed: Transcripts must be mailed, faxed, or emailed directly from the institution to HCC Student Services, 606 W. Main, Highland, KS 66035 Fax: 785-442-6106 or Email: admissions@highlandcc.edu

3. Submission of evidence of the ability to communicate in English, which will permit reasonable academic progress, through the following methods:

a. Completion of a minimum of 15 weeks in an approved Intensive Language Center OR

b. A score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of one of the following:

   ·500 (paper-based)

   ·173 (computer-based)

   ·61 (internet-based)

c. A score on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 6.0

d. Duolingo English Test Score of 90 or Higher 

Students not possessing any of the above evidence of the ability to communicate in English will be evaluated for admission on a case-by-case basis. 

4. Submission of the affidavit of support form and a bank statement dated within 6 months of the start of the semester.

5. Payment of $150 housing deposit and signed housing contract for HCC campus housing

6. Payment of $3600 (will be credited towards student's account)

7. Provide a copy of current passport (photo identification).

Before receiving a F-1 visa, the student must pay the $350 SEVIS fee for the I-901 document online at ice.gov/sevis/i901.

After Arriving at Campus

8. Provide proof of adequate health insurance, which includes coverage for medical evacuation, repatriation, and medical coverage while in the US.

9. Provide a copy of F-1 Visa to the Student Services Office.

10. Students, who are not citizens of the United States and come from TB endemic countries as defined by WHO Global TB database, are required to have a TB skin test (known also as a PPD) upon arrival on campus.     

International Student Admission-Special Student

International students whose I-20 is held by another college or university may take up to 9 hours per semester at Highland Community College and may be admitted as a Special Student after the following are provided: 

1. Submission of an HCC application for admissions highlandcc.edu/pages/apply  

2. Letter (on official letterhead) from the PDSO or DSO of the SEVP university or college holding the I-20, stating that the student is maintaining their immigration status.

3. Copy of the I-20 form.

4. TB test (if applicable). Special students taking face-to-face classes must comply with “Additional Admissions Requirement for Face-to-Face Classroom Settings.”

Selective Admissions Policy

Admission to Highland Community College does not guarantee acceptance and/or enrollment in the following programs. Additional admissions requirements are required:

Practical Nursing (PN)

Students are required to be a CNA (certified nursing aide) and take the following hours prior to entering the PN Program:

• Human Growth and Development-3 credit hours

• Human Anatomy & Human Physiology with lab - minimum of 5 credit hours. (There is a 7-year expiration date. If over 7 years, please contact the Nursing Department.) 

   o BS104 Human Anatomy with lab- 4 credit hours

   o BS105 Human Physiology with lab- 4 credit hours

PN students begin classes each August and finish in May. Application materials (Nursing Program Application; Test Results; Transcripts; etc.)  are due by April 1 each year. Forty students are accepted into the PN program each year. Students should contact the nursing department to obtain an informational packet with comprehensive application requirements by emailing Nursing@highlandcc.edu 

Applicant’s file must contain the following in order to interview:

1. Application with correct major/program and semester (select practical nursing and fall.)

2. Teas V Test: Minimum average score of 58.7%. Bring photo ID, arrive 15 minutes prior to start time, plan on two-plus hours, the fee is $65. Call (913) 367-6204, ext. 138 for open test dates

3. Work Keys Scores: Level 5 for Math and level 6 for Reading. Plan on two-plus hours for these tests. The fee is $12 for each test for a total of $24.

4. CNA certification in Kansas or its equivalent if from another state. This must be current.

5. Proof of graduation from high school or completion of GED.

6. Letter of reference (form provided in information packet) from most recent employer that recommends applicant.

7. Transcripts verifying C or better grades for these college courses: Anatomy & Physiology (minimum of 5 credit hours with lab) and Human Growth and Development (3 credit hours).

The Selection Process is Point Driven:

An applicant’s file is complete when items 1-7 are in his/her file.  Applicants whose files are complete are scheduled for the group interview around April 1st.  As part of the interview, applicants will be given points for punctuality, attire, and the writing sample.  A point system is used to determine the best-qualified applicants who are then sent letters of acceptance.  These individuals must respond to their acceptance letter by the date indicated in the letter.  Failure to return the acceptance by the date provided will result in the loss of a position in the class. 

Additional Points Award for the following: CNA (<6 month), CMA, College English, College or Intermediate Algebra.

All application materials must be in the nursing office by April 1. Applicants will be directed as to how to obtain a criminal background check and a drug screen in the acceptance letter. Nursing applicants must be 18 years old by graduation from the Practical Nursing Program and able to perform the physical and mental activities required of nurses.

LPN to RN Completion Program (Associate Degree in Nursing)

Must have an active LPN license. In addition, the following prerequisites are required:

• Human Growth and Development - 3 credit hours

• Human Anatomy and Human Physiology with labs - minimum of 5 credit hours. (There is a 7 year expiration date. If over 7 years, please contact the Nursing Department.)

   o BS104 Human Anatomy with lab - 4 credit hrs

   o BS105 Human Physiology with lab - 4 credit hrs

• General Psychology - 3 credit hours

• Microbiology with lab - minimum of 4 credit hours. (There is a 7 year expiration date. If over 7 years, please contact the Nursing Department.)

   o BS 203 Microbiology with lab - 5 credit hours (BS 101 prerequisite)

• College English I - 3 credit hours

• College English II or Public Speaking or Oral Communications - 3 credit hours

• Computer Literacy Elective - 1 credit hour

• Humanities and Fine Arts Elective - 3 credit hours

• IV Therapy Certification

• CPR Certification - American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers

Students must make an application to the program by August 1 meeting all application requirements. Students should contact the nursing department to obtain an informational packet with comprehensive application requirements. The program begins in the spring semester and finishes after the summer semester. Twenty students are accepted to the program each year.

Kansas Army National Guard and Reservists

Members of the Kansas Army National Guard can attend Highland Community College under an agreement between the Kansas Army National Guard and Kansas community colleges.  The agreement allows Guard members to transfer military training and experiences under the recommendations of the American Council of Education (ACE) to Highland Community College and to gain credit through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). 

Generally, the Guard member must earn a minimum of sixty-three credit hours of which sixteen (16) hours must be in residence (on-campus, regional site, or online) at Highland Community College.  Guard members must earn the sixteen hours within two years of their graduation date.

Additional Admissions Requirement for Face-to-Face Classroom Settings

In compliance with Kansas Statute KSA 2009 Supp. 65-129, the College has instituted a tuberculosis prevention and control policy for students. All students applying for admission to Highland with classes in a classroom setting at Highland Community College or at one of its regional sites will be required to complete a Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire. Very Important: A yes response to ANY of the five questions on the questionnaire will classify the student in a “high risk” tuberculosis category as defined by the Kansas Department of Health and Enrollment guidelines. These students will be required to complete a Tuberculosis Assessment at the local health department or medical clinic prior to attendance in a college classroom. Students who do not comply with this requirement will not be able to enroll in face-to-face classes. 

Credit by Assessment 

Highland Community College accepts College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credits by examination.  The CLEP permits students of any age or education level to gain college credit, following satisfactory completion of CLEP examinations.  Highland Community College serves as a testing center along with other community colleges, colleges, and universities around the United States.  

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP exams offered are sufficiently challenging to an individual who has a significant background in the subject area. Study guides with sample test questions are available online at collegeboard.org.

Highland Community College is a CLEP Open Test Center. This means that the CLEP Coordinator will administer the CLEP examinations upon receipt of the completed “Request for College Credit” form and fees from the individual requesting the service. However, students seeking a degree program from HCC are reminded to review institutional policies concerning CLEP credit and confer with the Registrar for permission to test. More information at  highlandcc.edu/pages/clep-testing.

Registering for CLEP Exams

1. Obtain a “Request for College Credit” form,  from the Testing Coordinator.

2. Discuss taking a CLEP examination with the Registrar. If approved, then the Testing Coordinator and the Registrar must sign the “Request for College Credit”.

3. Schedule a date and time with the Testing Coordinator to take the test.

4. On test date, take the completed “Request for College Credit “ form and two checks: One payable to CLEP for the amount of the exam(s)  and one payable to Highland Community College for the amount of the administrative fee. Credit cards are accepted.  (English Literature and American Literature ONLY require additional fees.)

HCC “CLEP” Policy Subject Examinations

1. The Registrar must grant approval for a student (those seeking a degree from HCC) to take a subject level exam on the basis of an interview.

2. A passing score on the examination shall be the mean score achieved by “C” students in the national norm sample.

3. Sixteen (16) semester hours of credit is the maximum allowed toward a degree program through CLEP. Credit can be used to meet course requirements in a major field of study, general studies program or other appropriate areas.

4. CLEP credit earned does not count toward course load in any term.

5. Students who fail a course offered by Highland Community College cannot be approved for a CLEP subject examination covering similar content.

6. Subject examinations may be repeated with written authorization obtained in advance from the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB), once within a 12-month period but no sooner than six months after the student was last tested.

Highland Community College will accept CLEP credit for the following courses (following page) if the scores meet the minimum score required for each course.  Minimum scores are the credit-granting scores recommended by the American Council on Education. No more than sixteen (16) credit hours of CLEP credit will be accepted at HCC.  A student’s transcript will designate all credits earned through CLEP.