College Connection
Qualified students earn high school and college credit concurrently, paying one third of the regular tuition cost or less.* College credit is transferable to most two- and four-year colleges and universities.
Jump Start Your Education
The College Connection program is a concurrent enrollment program in which high school students in participating Dutchess and Putnam county high schools are able to attend Dutchess Community College classes at their high school. This program seeks to enrich students through providing the rigors of higher education in a familiar environment, with their peers and high school instructors.
College Connection is unique in that students are given the opportunity to experience college level coursework prior to graduating from high school, and to earn both high school and college credit. Students in this program can save money by reducing future college costs, become immersed in diverse and challenging coursework, develop interests in distinct content areas, and become a more attractive college candidate by accepting the challenge of taking college courses during high school.
Taught by high school teachers who have met the same standards as college part-time faculty, these courses give high school students the opportunity to experience a challenging, college-level course while still in high school. Over 20 college level courses are taught in high schools throughout Dutchess and Putnam counties during the regular school day.
Credits completed through the College Connection program are encouraged to be applied to programs offered at Dutchess Community College, but can also be transferred to most four-year colleges and universities.
Important Deadlines
Fall 2024 | Full Year (40 Weeks) | Spring 2025 | |
Registration Window | Sept. 3 - Oct. 4 | Sept. 3 - Oct. 4 | Jan. 27 - Feb. 28 |
Drop WITHOUT financial liability | On or before Oct. 11 | On or before Oct. 11 | On or before March 7 |
Payment due date | Nov. 11 | Nov. 11 | April 7 |
Drop WITH financial liability | Oct 12 - Jan. 23 | Oct. 12 - June 12 | March 8 - June 12 |
Drop WITH financial liability | Jan. 24 | June 13 | June 13 |
Tuition Information
College Connection Student | Per Credit | 3 Credits | 4 Credits |
Regular College Connection Tuition | $69 | $207 | $276 |
Free or Reduced Priced Lunch Tuition* | $34.50 | $103.50 | $138 |
*To be eligible for the Free or Reduced Priced Lunch tuition rate, students are required to complete a Free or Reduced Lunch Verification Form. Please contact your instructor or Guidance Counselor for more information.
These options may change each semester – be sure to check with your high school counselor or review the College Connection handbook to confirm availability at your school.
A#: Student ID number at Dutchess Community College
CRN: Course identification number – typically a 4-digit number- that differentiates classes
Drop: Removing a class from your schedule (can be with or without a refund, depending on when the request is made during the semester)
Grade Point Average (GPA): The sum of all of the course grades at DCC divided by the total number of credits – traditionally on a scale of 0-4.0
myDCC: An online portal, specific to each student, to view various pieces of information about academics at DCC, such as class schedule, bill, and registration tools
Withdrawal: Removing a class after the drop period, resulting in a “W” on the transcript. This has no effect on GPA, but can affect future financial aid eligibility
Contact Us
Fred Herbst
Associate Dean of Instruction & Learning / Pre-Collegiate Programs
Phone: (845) 431-8953
Email: frederic.herbst@sunydutchess.edu
53 Pendell Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601