Admissions

Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) believes that everyone should have an opportunity to further their education. Whether a student strives to attain an associate degree, certificate, or select courses for personal and professional growth, our Admissions Staff will gladly help the student through every step of the process.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic criteria for admission may still enroll at QCC. They can take courses to meet the minimum requirements as a non-degree student, or they will be admitted to the General Studies program. If a student does not wish to be admitted into the General Studies program, they must contact the QCC Admissions Office (Welcome Center, HLC, 2nd Floor) at QCC Worcester (Main Campus) at 508.854.4262 or at admissions [at] qcc.mass.edu.

QCC has established minimum academic requirements for admission to most programs, which are designed to help assure academic success. Information about minimum requirements can be found in the Areas of Study section of this catalog.

How to Apply

1. Apply online at www.QCC.edu/enrollment-steps. Applications are also available in the QCC Admissions Office at QCC Worcester (Main Campus) at 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, or at QCC Southbridge, or through high school guidance departments. Applicants may also contact the QCC (Worcester) Admissions Office at 508.854.4262 to request an application.
2. Submit the online application. Return the paper application to the QCC Admissions Office at QCC Worcester (Main Campus), or via mail to “Quinsigamond Community College, Attn: Admissions Office, 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606-2092”. To qualify for the In-State Resident tuition rate, applicants must certify continuous residence in Massachusetts during the six months preceding the application and be a permanent resident or citizen of the United States (U.S.). Applicants can contact the QCC Admissions Office for questions regarding the resident tuition rate.
3. QCC requires a high school transcript, diploma, or demonstration of high school equivalency, such as the General Equivalency Development or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test or the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET). Applicants should ask their high school to forward a transcript of their grades (including the first marking period of the senior year) directly to the QCC Admissions Office. Applicants can upload a copy of their transcript on The Q, the Student Portal, under the Admissions tab and click on Admissions Document Center or email their high school document to enrollmentprocessing [at] qcc.mass.edu.
4. Applicants who have never obtained a high school diploma or the equivalency must obtain a high school equivalency in order to be accepted to the College. Applicants can contact the QCC Admissions Office for detailed information on how to enroll in the College.

Admission to Health Programs

Students who meet the established Admissions Requirements for the Health Programs (Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Medical Assisting, Nurse Education, Occupational Therapy, Perioperative Nursing, Paramedic Technology, Practical Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care, and Surgical Technology) will be accepted on a rolling basis until the class is full. Qualified students will be given a start date for their clinical/core courses and placed on a waiting list if the program is full for the upcoming semester. Students will begin their clinical classes no later than their given start date. If a slot in an earlier semester becomes available, the student will be contacted and given an opportunity to begin sooner. While on the waitlist, if a student wishes to enroll in education courses that apply to the program, the student must contact the QCC Admissions Office.

Applicants who do not meet the Admissions Requirements can still be accepted to the Healthcare program at a later term. Alternatively, they should make an appointment to meet with an Academic Advisor after acceptance who will assist them in meeting the Admissions Requirements of their chosen program.

January (Spring) and May (Summer) Admissions

Applications for admission to the College for the Spring and Summer semesters are accepted on a rolling basis. Some programs only have a Fall start and course offerings vary from year to year. Students should visit the QCC website at www.QCC.edu for program start dates.

Undeclared Students

Prospective students who wish to enroll in individual courses and do not wish to pursue an associate degree or certificate can enroll at QCC as an Undeclared Student. All course prerequisites apply to Undeclared Students in the same manner as degree-seeking students. Credits earned in the Undeclared Student status may be applied to an associate degree or certificate curriculum. Undeclared Students are not eligible for financial aid.

Transfer Students

Transfer student applicants are required to submit a high school transcript, diploma or official documentation of high school equivalency (GED or HiSET) and official college transcript.  Applicants who have previously completed an undergraduate or graduate degree may provide documentation of their earned degree in lieu of high school completion.

Transferring Credits

Applicants who have previously attended a regionally accredited post-secondary institution and are seeking to transfer credit must submit an official college transcript issued directly to QCC from the institution where the credit was earned.  Credit is awarded for courses completed with a grade of “C” or higher, provided the courses are applicable to the student’s QCC major. Credit will transfer as a QCC course equivalent or as an elective within a comparable department if an equivalent does not exist.  Courses with “D” grades may also transfer if the student’s Quality Point Average (QPA) is 2.00 or higher at the institution from which they are transferring.  However, “D” grades are only accepted in lower sequence courses and only if they have completed the upper sequence of the same course with a grade of “C” or higher at the transfer institution. A formal transfer credit evaluation is prepared for students upon their acceptance to QCC.  Submission of course descriptions or syllabi from previously attended institutions may also be required for the purpose of performing a transfer credit evaluation.

For credits earned at international institutions, the College will follow the guidelines established by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).  Students must request a “course by course” evaluation of transcripts from institutions outside the U.S. from a credential evaluation service that is a current member of NACES and is subject to approval by the VP of Academic Affairs. 

Transferred credits count as earned credit hours only.  No quality points or grades are transferred or calculated in the student’s QPA. A minimum of 25% of the credit hours in the degree or certificate being conferred is required to fulfill the College residency requirement.

Approval of transfer credit may be authorized by the Registrar’s Office or academic deans.  For more information, contact the QCC Registrar’s Office at registrar [at] qcc.mass.edu (Room 152, Administration Building).

Campus Tours

Both individual and group campus tours of QCC Worcester (Main Campus) are available. To schedule a tour, please visit www.QCC.edu/campus-tours, or contact the QCC Admissions Office at admissions [at] qcc.mass.edu.

State Immunization Requirements

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, General Law105CMR 220.600  requires QCC to collect proof of immunizations from the following students: 

• All full-time students (12 or more credits) under 30 years of age and 
• All health science students – both full-time and part-time (note that health profession programs will require additional health records and requirements**)
• All students on a student or other visa - both full-time and part-time (including foreign exchange students and those students visiting or attending classes while on academic visitation or exchange program). 

All of the student groups noted must submit proof of immunizations for the following: measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); hepatitis B; varicella (chickenpox); tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap); Meningococcal ACWY is also required for students age 21 or younger.  

Please note that positive titers for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, and varicella will also meet the state requirement. 

Healthcare students will need to provide records for immunizations/titers/and health documents. These are required before attending clinical. Positive titers are required for healthcare students. 

For questions on immunizations please reach out to immunizations [at] qcc.mass.edu.

Placement 

QCC currently uses multiple measures to help place students into appropriate courses in Mathematics and English. These measures might include:

• High school transcript or most recent report card, showing overall GPA
• College transcripts or previous QCC courses and grades
• AP test scores, SAT or ACT test scores
• HiSET or GED test scores
• Mathematics Assessment
• English Self-Assessment 

QCC recommends that students work with an academic advisor to determine their individual need for college placement assessment into Mathematics and English courses.

QCC divides the College Placement Assessment into two parts, one for Mathematics and one for English. Students may need to complete either or both of the placement assessments as determined by program choice and by past educational experience. The Mathematics assessment is a computer-based, multiple-choice test, and it will take students no more than two (2) hours to complete. The English placement assessment is self-guided, and it will take students no more than 30 minutes to complete. Once the desired assessments are complete, students will discuss the results with an advisor before registering for their Mathematics and English courses.

High School Equivalency Test

Massachusetts and QCC now offer both GED and HiSET testing. Both tests provide students the opportunity to earn a high school credential. This credential is recognized as a key to employment opportunities, career advancement, and further education.

Both tests are offered at QCC at the Healthcare and Workforce Development Center, 25 Federal Street, Worcester, Room 114D.

To learn about the tests, apply for accommodations, or schedule a test appointment, visit the HiSET website at www.hiset.org, or the GED website at www.ged.com. Questions about testing may be directed to the QCC Testing Office, 508.854.2784 or testing [at] qcc.mass.edu.

Test takers who are under the age of 18 must contact the state office before registering for either test. Please call 781.338.6625.

Not ready to take the test? Looking for a free HiSET/GED preparatory class? Contact the Adult Community Learning Center at 508.751.7926, aclc [at] qcc.mass.edu, or visit www.QCC.edu/ACLC.

New England Regional Student Program

QCC participates in the New England Regional Student Program (RSP), which provides tuition savings every year to thousands of New England residents. Students from any of the six New England states can receive the Massachusetts in-state tuition rate plus 50 percent. Contact the QCC Admissions Office for specific details. Information is also available at www.nebhe.org.

Homeschooled Students

All homeschooled students, without a high school diploma or equivalent, are eligible to apply for admission to an associate degree or certificate program provided they have successfully completed an approved homeschool program in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws or the laws of their home state. If a homeschooled student has not completed an approved homeschool program, the student should contact the QCC Admissions Office.

To determine whether a student has participated in an approved homeschool program, the student shall submit, with the application for admission, evidence that the homeschool program was approved by the superintendent or school committee of the student’s school district. Additionally, if the homeschooled student is under the age of compulsory attendance, which is 16 years old in Massachusetts, a letter from the student’s school district’s superintendent or school committee is required, stating that the student is not considered truant and would not be required to attend further schooling or continue to be homeschooled, if the student has completed their homeschool program before the age of 16.

The College reserves the right to limit or deny enrollment of a student under the age of 16 in a course or program based on this case-by-case consideration of a variety of factors, including, but not limited to: the student’s maturity, life experience, placement test scores, prior education, course content, instructional methodology, and risks associated with a particular course or program. 

International Students

International Students must use the International Student Application at www.QCC.edu/international-students. Deadlines are July 1 for the Fall semester and November 1 for the Spring semester.

If transferring from another American institution, International Students must submit the admissions application at least 60 days before the beginning of the semester. Only students who have a secondary school diploma or who have passed an equivalency test - and can speak, read, write and understand English well enough to take a full-time program - will be considered for admission. If a student’s native language is not English, he or she will be asked to demonstrate their ability to understand English. International Students must demonstrate adequate financial support for the time they will be attending QCC. Financial support can be verified by providing a certificate of finances or a certification of sponsorship. International Students who have student visas are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 credits during each semester. Information about International Student regulations, admission, and fees are available from the QCC Admissions Office.

For additional information about International Student regulations, admission, and fees, please visit www.QCC.edu/international-students, email international [at] qcc.mas.edu or visit the QCC Admissions Office on the main campus. Financial support can be verified by providing a certificate of finances or a certification of sponsorship, AND a bank statement documenting sufficient available funds.

Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) Linkages/Chapter 74 Articulation Agreements

QCC has established agreements with local comprehensive and vocational/technical high schools to assist students in making the transition to higher education. Some of these agreements come under the state’s Chapter 74 Articulation Agreements or programs. All agreements state the conditions and criteria that must be met by graduating high school students in order to receive advanced placement and college credit.

For more information contact Nicole Fortin at 508.854.2838 or nfortin [at] qcc.mass.edu.

Early College Programs

Early College Programs are offered to more than 20 high schools in Central Massachusetts. Early College Programs provide students with the opportunity to earn 12  or more college credits along with earning a high school diploma. In addition to earning 12 or more college credits, students can choose career pathway courses that  lead them to earn a QCC Certificate or Associate Degree along with a high school diploma. Once the course or courses are completed, a college transcript is created. Most of the courses students take are Massachusetts transferrable, or fit into the “MassTransfer Block,” which satisfies general education/distribution/core requirements across Massachusetts institutions. Taking advantage of QCC’s credit course offerings enable students to get a “jump start” on college access, in addition to saving time and money. Students must meet all course prerequisite or corequisites, if required.

For more information contact Christina Hebert at 508.854.2853 or chebert [at] qcc.mass.edu.

Attend College Early

QCC offers the Attend College Early program to local high school districts that wish to allow their current students the opportunity to complete high school graduation requirements through concurrent enrollment at QCC. Participation in this program is available to high school seniors and juniors who have been properly prepared for appropriate college level work. High school guidance counselors are expected to lead in the process of identifying potential applicants and assisting students with the application process. In addition, coursework to be taken at QCC is determined collaboratively by the students and appropriate high school guidance personnel; it is the responsibility of the student and parent to consult with the Guidance Office and Principal to ensure that courses selected will meet the requirements for high school graduation.

Criteria for Acceptance

To be eligible for acceptance into the Attend College Early Program, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Be currently enrolled in high school
• Have completed high school English courses with grades of “B” or higher
• Have an overall “B” average
• Demonstrate satisfactory disciplinary history in his/her student profile
• Place into ENG 101 and MAT 095 on the College Placement Test
• Complete the Attend College Early Program application process within the established timelines

For more information, contact Admissions Office for criteria for acceptance.

Future Focus Program

The Future Focus Program is designed specifically for nontraditional students and adult learners. It provides financial assistance with tuition, fees, textbook costs, and other required materials for college. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE) funds the program. The program offers a foundation of services within QCC that enable adult learners to transition into and, ultimately, complete postsecondary education.

For more information, contact the Future Focus Program at 508.854.2876 or email Futurefocus [at] qcc.mass.edu.

Gateway to College
gtcinfo [at] qcc.mass.edu

Quinsigamond Community College Gateway to College program connects at risk students or students who have dropped out of high school to an alternative dual enrollment program in which students take their classes on the college campus and earn credits for and towards their high school diploma. It is a rigorous dual enrollment alternative option and students are generally taking a college course load that is not modified. GTC students work with staff, faculty, and supportive family in a cohort type environment.

Readmission to the College

Students who have previously attended QCC and have not attended the College for two consecutive semesters, either due to withdrawal or academic failure, must apply to be readmitted. Students must submit a new application.

Upon academic failure, or withdrawing from a health or high demand program, students are required to meet with their Program Coordinator to establish guidelines for readmission. Students will be considered only once for readmission to all health programs. Specific steps for readmission can be obtained in the QCC Admissions Office or from the appropriate academic department. Students must submit a new application. Depending on the length of time since their last enrolled semester at QCC, they may also need to submit another document proving high school graduation or equivalency.

Program Admissions Requirements

A High School Transcript/Diploma, GED/HiSET Scores, or college transcript from a U.S. institution is required for admission to all programs at QCC. If students want to transfer academic credits or degree equivalency evaluation from a university abroad, they will need an evaluation agency (such as WES or CED) to assess their transcript.

Any applicant who does not meet the minimum program admissions requirements should contact the QCC Admissions Office to schedule an interview with an Admissions Counselor. Upon review of one’s academic background and a consultation with the appropriate academic department, the student will be informed if their background is equivalent to the program admissions requirements. For additional information and acceptance criteria, contact the QCC Admissions Office.