Early College: Charles County

Early College Program

image of woman with a graduation cap with the early college logo

Aligning with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, this dual enrollment program is for rising juniors and seniors at Charles County Public Schools high schools.


About CSM Early College

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is proud to partner with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) to bring CCPS high school students and their families the CSM Early College Program. The program for the 2024-2025 academic year is open to rising juniors and seniors, this tuition-free program is an opportunity to experience being a full-time college student, save money, and complete college credits while still in high school.

Hear From Our Students

Seniors completing the General Studies: Transfer Certificate (25 credits) take college classes on CSM's La Plata Campus, while simultaneously fulfilling their high school graduation requirements. 

Juniors have several options: Business Administration, AS; Medical Coding Certificate; Pharmacy Technician Certificate; or Electrical Certificate. General studies and Business Administration courses will be held on the La Plata Campus. Health sciences and trades courses will take place on the Regional Hughesville Campus. 

Missed our Early College Information Session?

View slides from the most recent Early College presentation

Program Benefits

Save Thousands on College of Southern Maryland CCPS covers tuition and course materials, saving each student and their family over $4,500 - $10,000 in tuition.

Students will take college classes full-time at CSM and will experience the pace and rigor of college-level coursework.

 Students will have access to CSM's top-notch support services, including dedicated advising and academic support. Services are available for students with disabilities. To obtain information or request services, please visit www.csmd.edu/disabilitysupport.

Costs

CCPS will fully cover students’ CSM tuition, administrative fees, and course materials. CCPS will also provide boxed lunches and transportation from students’ home high schools to CSM campuses and back.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be a junior or senior for the 2024-2025 academic year at a Charles County public high school.
  • Have an unweighted high school GPA of 2.75 or better.
  • Rising juniors will be given the ALEKS placement test for math.
  • Rising seniors must have completed Algebra 2 with a grade of C or higher by the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.
  • All rising juniors and seniors must have completed their Student Service Learning hours requirements.
  • All rising juniors and seniors must have completed their state testing requirements.

Applications will be reviewed, and students will be notified of acceptance in the late spring. When there are more applicants than spaces available, a lottery system will be used.

Capacities for each program:

  • General Studies: 100
  • Business Administration: 60
  • Pharmacy Tech: 15
  • Electrical: 15
  • Medical Coding: 30

Students who are selected for the program will be required to participate in an in-person CSM New Student Orientation in late August.

How to Apply

Application will be available January 2, 2024. Application deadline is now February 22, 2024.

  1. Be sure to indicate on your application that you are interested in the Early College program for Fall 2024. You will be able to select the Early College program option you are interested in participating in. 

  2. Upload a copy of your high school transcript as a Supplemental Item with your online application. 
  3. Please download a copy of the Early College Recommendation Form and complete the student portion. Save your update, and email it to your high school counselor to complete the rest of the form. Once completed, your counselor will email it to EarlyCollege@csmd.edu

Parents and guardians with questions can contact their child’s high school counselor. For information about the application or the program, contact us at EarlyCollege@csmd.edu.

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