Dual Enrollment at Midlands Technical College

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does “dual enrollment” mean?

Dual enrollment is when a student is enrolled in a high school and college at the same time. DE students take courses that count for college credit. MTC offers dual enrollment as an option to high school students who live in Fairfield, Lexington, and Richland counties. These courses may be taken on high school campuses, one of the MTC campuses, online or virtually.

How is it tuition-free?

If a student takes at least six credit hours from MTC per semester, students may attend DE@MTC for free thanks to the South Carolina Lottery Tuition Assistance Program and South Carolina Workforce & Industry Needs Scholarship. There may be forms that students need to submit in order for courses to be tuition free, such as the Lottery Tuition Assistance waiver. Check with our dual enrollment counselors to learn more.

Do I have to purchase books?

Students are responsible for covering the costs of textbooks for DE@MTC courses, unless the costs are being covered by the student’s high school.

Who will be my teacher?

Dual enrollment courses are taught by MTC faculty. Often teachers at individual high schools have the appropriate credentials and teach these college level classes on behalf of MTC.

Will my dual enrollment credits course credits transfer to another college or university?

Yes. MTC's general education college courses transfer to most colleges and universities across the nation. In addition, selected colleges and universities also accept courses from MTC's applied technical and professional programs. However, individual institutions reserve the right to ultimately determine transferability of credits. Students should contact the college to which they intend to attend to ensure that their courses transfer.

How do I enroll?

Students have several dual enrollment options.

1. Work with your school to get approval to come to MTC and take Dual Enrollment classes on one of our six regional campuses.
2. Find out if you’re in a district that offers DE classes at your high school.
3. Take Dual Enrollment courses that are available through an online (asynchronous) or virtual (synchronous) delivery mode.

Please see your high school counselor to find out which option is best for you. Also, your MTC dual enrollment counselors are always ready to help.

What are the admissions requirements and forms?

Regardless of the option that you choose, you must submit the following:

• Dual Enrollment Application for Admissions
• Qualifying Credentials for Admissions and Placement (SAT, ACT, ACCUPLACER, High School Transcript, AP, IB, etc.)
• Lawful Presence Form​
• Dual Enrollment High School Agreement Form
• 2023-2024 Lottery Tuition Assistance Waiver Request Form
  Beginning for the 2023-24 academic year, the Lottery Tuition Assistance Waiver Request Form will be completed electronically.  Upon admission to the college, students will receive an email containing a link to the electronic form and will use their MyMTC credentials to access the form.

See specific admissions requirements here. 

How does course registration work?

If you attend an area high school/district where courses will be offered at/through your school, your counselor will send your registration requests to MTC for you. All other students should submit a completed dual enrollment application and receive your acceptance, email us at dualenrollment@midlandstech.edu to arrange your Dual Enrollment advisement session. 

Do DE@MTC students have access to college resources?

Yes. All dual enrollment students have access to college resources, including academic advising, tutoring, library services, and counseling and career services. 

What other programs involve DE@MTC students?

The Midlands Youth Apprenticeship Program

The Midlands Youth Apprenticeship (MYA) program is a local partnership between the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, MTC, Apprenticeship Carolina, and participating Midlands school districts and employers across a variety of industries.

Educational Talent Search

If you are a middle school or high school student in Fairfield or Lexington county, you may be eligible to participate in a program designed to motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of a college degree. The Educational Talent Search (ETS) is a federally funded TRIO program of the U.S. Department of Education. TRIO programs provide academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention.

Upward Bound

This program provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. Upward Bound serves high school students from low-income families and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor's degree.

Can earning college credits while in high school effect scholarship possibilities?

It is possible that taking dual enrollment courses could impact a student’s future college scholarship possibilities, such as the Life Scholarship. Students should enter into DE courses with an understanding of the expectations of a college course and the perseverance to see it through. Students may contact their high schools counselor or MTC counselors for specific information regarding DE and scholarships.

Do parents have access to student academic information?

Yes. DE@MTC students must agree to allow for the release grades, attendance, academic standing, disciplinary action, financial obligations, or other student information to parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Academic information will also be provided to a student's high school as part of this agreement.

Is Dual Enrollment worth it?