Future Student FAQs

Applying for admission to HCC is easy. Complete our online application, but first please visit our Steps to Enroll.

Residency is the term used by Florida institutions of higher education to describe the student’s tuition classification status. Students attending Florida institutions of higher education are required to show documentation supporting legal permanent residence within the state of Florida in order to receive the Florida Residency Discount. The state statute is specific in detailing the documentation, time period and enrollment status of students intending to classify or reclassify themselves as in-state residents for tuition purposes. For detailed information regarding Florida state residency, please see Proof of Residency for Tuition Purposes.

Tuition and fees are due by the posted payment due dates for the term of registration. Tuition for registration conducted after the payment deadline requires payment the same day as the registration.

Note: Payment deadlines are posted on the college calendar, HCC website and student handbook. It is your responsibility to stay informed about the college calendar and deadlines.

HCC offers many different options to pay for college such as

• Financial Aid
• Bright Futures
• Scholarships
• Florida Pre-Paid
• Tuition Installment Plan (TIPS)

See Paying for College for complete information on each of these options.

Florida Bright Futures scholarships are awarded after HCC receives the Master Eligibility List from the Florida Office of Student Assistance. The list is typically provided in July of each year. Please be sure that you include HCC as your school of choice with the state of Florida in order for us to receive the appropriate information about your scholarship. If you are an HCC student receiving a Bright Futures Scholarship, any remaining balance due to the college will be due by the published payment due date.

As an applicant you are responsible for ensuring that official copies of your high school transcript or GED scores and official copies of your transcript(s) from all postsecondary schools you have attended are submitted to the college. You may choose to hand deliver your sealed official transcript to the student services office at your home campus. All transcripts must be received prior to the awarding of financial aid. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Florida statute requires that all Florida community colleges and/or universities administer common placement testing programs to assess the basic computation and communication skills of some students who intend to enter PSAV or degree programs. This test is administered on the computer to incoming students who do not meet exemption requirements and are not able to show placement by other means such as transferable college/university coursework, current SAT/ACT scores (completed in the past two years), or SAT/ACT scores meeting the minimum college level placement requirement. New, transfer or returning students may be eligible and/or required to take part or all of the placement test.

Who is eligible to be exempt from placement testing?

• Students who started attending a Florida public high school during the 2003/2004 academic year or later, and who also graduated with a standard high school diploma from a Florida public high school.
• Active-duty military students who were active-duty when they started HCC and are still active-duty.

Who is NOT eligible to be exempt from placement testing?

• Students who entered 9th grade in a Florida public high school prior to the 2003/2004 academic year
• Students who did not attend a Florida public high school
• Students who earned a high school equivalency diploma or GED
• Students who did not earn a standard high school diploma from a Florida public high school
• Home Education students
• Private high school students
• Prospective dual enrollment students

HCC accepts transfer coursework from other regionally accredited institutions of higher education. Transfer credits are evaluated after an official transcript has been submitted to the college. After transfer credit evaluations are complete, you will receive a notice via HawkMail and may view this information on WebAdvisor. Students who have coursework from unaccredited or nationally accredited institutions must meet with an academic adviser or student services generalist to determine the process for the potential transfer of coursework.

The Welcome Orientation/Registration Workshop provides essential information about HCC and all of the resource tools available for students. The Registration Workshop can be completed in person, on campus or online (in person is recommended for first-time-in-college students).

Once you have completed an online application and submitted/taken placement tests (if needed), you are eligible to register for classes. It is strongly recommended to connect with an academic advisor to choose first semester classes.

See our Academic Calendar for important dates and deadlines.