The Dual Enrollment Program at Erie County Community College (EC3) allows qualified high school students to take college courses that count toward both their high school diploma and future college degree.
Students gain early exposure to college-level coursework, develop strong academic skills, and save both time and money on their higher education journey.
Now through the 2026-2027 school year PA residents can participate FREE of cost.
Why Choose Dual Enrollment?
Participating in EC3’s Dual Enrollment program provides significant advantages:
- Save Time and Money – Earn college credit before high school graduation. Each 3-credit course is equal to $555 in savings.
- Boost College Readiness – Gain experience with college coursework and expectations.
- Improve College Success Rates – Dual enrollment students have higher GPAs and are more likely to graduate from High School and College.
- Expand Opportunities – Explore career pathways and fields of study early.
Who Can Participate?
High school students age 16 or older who demonstrate strong academic performance and receive a recommendation from a teacher or counselor are eligible.
How Can I Participate?
You can participate through multiple avenues. (Click on the program you are interested in for more information and how to enroll.)
- On Campus - College courses taught by EC3 Faculty on the EC3 campus.
Best for: Students seeking the full college experience
- Online - Online courses taught by EC3 faculty.
Best for: Busy schedules and flexible access.
- Career + Tech - CTE pathways: Welding, CNC, IT, Healthcare, and more
Best for: Workforce and technical training pipelines
- Dual-Degree General Studies - Students earn an associate degree before graduation
Best for: Motivated learners pursuing major time and cost savings
- Fusion - A collaborative model pairing a high school instructor with an EC3 faculty partner to co-design curriculum
Contact Information
EC3 Dual Enrollment Office
📧 DualCredit@ec3pa.org
📞 (814) 413-7034
On Campus
- Check with your school district to see if they provide transportation to EC3. If not, students are responsible for their own transportation.
- Check with your school to see how credit will be awarded.
- Students can transfer credits to many 4 year institutions, see if the one you plan to attend will accept our credit.
Available Courses
EC3 offers a wide range of college courses across disciplines that may transfer toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. You may take any course that EC3 offers:
English & Humanities
Composition, Literature, Public Speaking, Philosophy, Art Appreciation
Mathematics & Science
Algebra, Statistics, General Biology, Environmental Science
Social Sciences
Psychology, Sociology, Macroeconomics, American Government
Business & Technology
Introduction to Business, Entrepreneurship, Management, Information Technology Fundamentals
Criminal Justice
Introduction to Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice
How to Enroll
Step 1: Apply Online
Visit Apply to EC3PA and select “Dual Enrollment for High School Students” as your program of study.
Step 2: Obtain School Counselor Recommendation
Ask your school counselor or teacher to email their recommendation to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 3: Submit Your High School Transcript
Email a copy of your current transcript to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 4: Complete the EC3 EdReady Assessment
Visit ec3pa.edready.org/home to create an account.
Use the following goal keys:
English: KAenglish (minimum score of 60 in Reading and Writing)
Math: KAmath (minimum score of 55 in Quantitative Reasoning)
If you don’t meet the minimum score, complete the assigned study path to raise your score.
Email updated results to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 5: Counselor Review and Registration
An EC3 Academic Counselor will review your materials and contact you to confirm eligibility.
If approved, you’ll meet with a counselor to register for your first course.
Online
- Online courses are asynchronous, meaning students will complete assignments weekly without set class times.
- Check with your high school to see if credit will be awarded.
- Students can transfer credits to many 4-year institutions; see if the one you plan to attend will accept our credits.
Available Courses
EC3 offers a wide range of college courses across you may take any course that EC3 offers:
English & Humanities
Composition, Literature, Philosophy, Art Appreciation
Mathematics & Science
Algebra, Statistics, Environmental Science
Social Sciences
Psychology, Sociology, Macroeconomics, American Government
Business & Technology
Introduction to Business, Entrepreneurship, Management, Information Technology Fundamentals
Criminal Justice
Introduction to Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice
How to Enroll
Step 1: Apply Online
Visit Apply to EC3PA and select “Dual Enrollment for High School Students” as your student type.
Step 2: Obtain School Counselor Recommendation
Ask your school counselor or teacher to email their recommendation to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 3: Submit Your High School Transcript
Email a copy of your current transcript to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 4: Complete the EC3 EdReady Assessment
Visit ec3pa.edready.org/home to create an account.
Use the following goal keys:
English: KAenglish (minimum score of 60 in Reading and Writing)
Math: KAmath (minimum score of 55 in Quantitative Reasoning)
If you don’t meet the minimum score, complete the assigned study path to raise your score.
Email updated results to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 5: Counselor Review and Registration
An EC3 Academic Counselor will review your materials and contact you to confirm eligibility.
If approved, you’ll meet with a counselor to register for your first course.
Career & Tech
- EC3 offers an accelerated 1-year Welding Certificate at the Summit location with 16 seats each year.
- Students may take an additional year completing CNC Operator and CNC Programmer Certificates, as well as the A.S. Industrial Technology program.
- This program runs on the ECTS schedule, allowing for busing to be provided by the home school district.
How to Enroll
Step 1: Apply Online
Visit Apply to EC3PA and select “Welding Certificate” as your program of study.
Step 2: Obtain School Counselor Recommendation
Ask your school counselor or teacher to email their recommendation to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 3: Submit Your High School Transcript
Email a copy of your current transcript to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 4: Counselor Review and Registration
An EC3 Academic Counselor will review your materials and contact you to confirm eligibility.
Dual-Degree General Studies
- Students may earn a full A.A. General Studies while in High School.
- This program runs M-F mornings at West and Summit Campuses.
- Through EC3’s 8-week semesters, students only take 3 courses at any given time to complete this degree.
- After this program, students can continue at a 4-year university as a Junior using our transfer agreements, or enter the workforce as a college graduate.
How to Enroll
Step 1: Apply Online
Visit Apply to EC3PA and select “General Studies” as your program of study.
Step 2: Obtain School Counselor Recommendation
Ask your school counselor or teacher to email their recommendation to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 3: Submit Your High School Transcript
Email a copy of your current transcript to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 4: Complete the EC3 EdReady Assessment
Visit ec3pa.edready.org/home to create an account.
Use the following goal keys:
English: KAenglish (minimum score of 60 in Reading and Writing)
Math: KAmath (minimum score of 55 in Quantitative Reasoning)
If you don’t meet the minimum score, complete the assigned study path to raise your score.
Email updated results to DualCredit@ec3pa.org.
Step 5: Counselor Review and Registration
An EC3 Academic Counselor will review your materials and contact you to confirm eligibility.
Fusion
- Earn college credit for the work you are already doing in High School.
- Students receive EC3 credit based on the letter grade they achieve in the full course, not a single exam.
- Check with your High School to see if they currently participate and which courses are offered.
How to Enroll
Apply Online - Visit Apply to EC3PA and select “Dual Enrollment for High School Students” as your program of study.
Contact Information
EC3 Dual Enrollment Office
📧 DualCredit@ec3pa.org
📞 (814) 413-7034
Key Contacts
- Andrea Campbell, Academic Counselor – acampbell@ec3pa.org | (814) 413-7030
- Dr. Stuart Blacklaw, Dean of Academics – sblacklaw@ec3pa.org | (814) 413-7006
- Christopher Reitz, Dual Credit Coordinator - creitz2@ec3pa.org | (814) 413-7034
