Admissions

All new students must complete an Online Application for admissions.

Placement Testing

Most new students should take the English placement test. A photo ID is required, such as your NOVA Student ID, a driver's license, Military ID or green card. Allow approximately two hours for the test. Students whose first language is not English will normally need to take an English proficiency test. If you have completed a college-level English course at another college, you may not have to take this test.

If you plan to take a math course, you will have to take a math test. Other courses, such as chemistry and physics, require math and English placement tests as well. You can check with the Counseling Center on any campus for more information about which tests you need.

• MCB Quantico: Placement Testing (Math & English)
  Students who wish to take their placement tests at MCB Quantico should contact the NOVA representative at Quantico at 703.640.6303.
• No placement testing is offered at Fort Belvoir.
• NOVA Testing Centers
• NOVA Sample Tests

With both the English and math placement tests, you may not have to take the either if you have completed college-level math and or English courses at another accredited college or you have successfully taken the CLEP or DANTES tests.

If students have questions, they should contact a NOVA counselor at the Base Education Center or the military advisors.

Meet a Counselor

There are counselors available at the NOVA office at the base who will assist students with selecting a program of study and/or choosing classes.

NOVA has a wide variety of courses and degree programs including ones designed to transfer to four-year colleges, specifically in the case of NOVA to George Mason University. However, since NOVA is a participant in SOC and is a nationally recognized college, a student should not have many problems in regard to the transferability of NOVA credits.

Active duty service members attending NOVA must complete a SOC agreement with NOVA before they complete 6 credit hours of course work through the college. NOVA degree programs are described in the College Catalog along with information about college policies, college resources, course descriptions, etc.

To assist students with their transition to college, NOVA offers student development courses, Counseling Center workshops and services that are designed to help students with their educational, career and life planning. SDV 100 is a one-credit course designed to provide an orientation to the college academic culture. Class meeting times for SDV 100 are scheduled in both the day, evening and through the Internet. An NOVA student must complete SDV 100 before they reach 16 credit hours enrolled at the college.

Financial Aid is available for students who qualify via the Financial Aid Office.

Select Classes and Make a Schedule

Click here to view the Schedule of Classes online. A print version of the Schedule of Classes is also available. You will need to use a current version of the Schedule of Classes and NOVA Catalog to plan your schedule. Class times and locations for all five campuses, the Medical Education Center and ELI are listed in the Schedule of Classes, which is available approximately two months before the beginning of each semester. Computers are available for your use to check for class availability on all NOVA campuses. You can search for class availability online through NOVAConnect from any computer with an Internet connection.

Class Registration

Class times and locations are available on the Web in the Schedule of Classes. You can also find all instructions and forms needed for registration. Check the current class schedule for dates and times of registration. 

You can register for classes on NOVAConnect using any computer with an Internet connection.

Pay for Classes

You can pay for classes using Military Tuition Assistance Army TA Request, Navy and Marine Corps TA Request, check, money order, VISA, Master Card, agency contract or student financial aid (if you have received an official financial aid award letter from the College Financial Aid Office). Tuition payment is due at the time of registration. You can only pay by cash in person. Tuition is the same for credit courses, developmental courses, ESL courses and courses being audited. Tuition is subject to change.

Get Copy/Receipt of Your Class Schedule

You can get a Web Payment Confirmation and a copy of your registration schedule by using NOVAConnect. You can also check your classes and payment status, but not get a receipt with NOVAConnect Phone. You must go to a campus Business Office to get a print receipt if you registered through NOVAConnect Phone or registered in person. The Business Offices CANNOT reprint a Web Payment Confirmation. Remember to check your receipt for any errors. Make sure you are registered for the proper courses on the correct days, at the right times and campus locations. You are responsible for making sure your registration is correct.

State of Legal Residency & Tax Information

Our most frequently asked question when students fill out their admission form is about their State of Legal Residency. A Military Student is a legal state resident, which is reflected on their most current LES. Please refer to the state tax website or the NOVA's main website for more details. A student who works at, lives on or TA comes out of one of our military sites is considered a contact student, and is charged our contract rate. Dependents of contract students will be considered out of state. Contract students who have dependents who wish to attend an in-state school may want to consider changing their State of Legal Residency. According to VA State Tax Law, "Up to $15,000 of military basic pay received during the taxable year may be exempted from Virginia income tax. The subtraction is reduced when military pay exceeds $15,000 and is fully phased out when pay reaches $30,000 (i.e., for every dollar that military basic pay exceeds $15,000, the subtraction is reduced by one dollar). Military personnel must serve on active duty for 90 days or more, and can be stationed inside or outside of Virginia. Report on Schedule ADJ, Line 6, Code 38. Code of Virginia Section 58.1-322 [C] [23]." This may be a very good option for E-6 and below. Please check with your own Accountant or the Base Tax Center for more details.

Use this link to view detailed guidelines on Domicile, Legal Residence and Home of Record.

Buy Books and Parking Permits

Textbooks can be purchased at the campus bookstores. Parking permits are available online and at campus business or police offices.