Early Online College

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Explore Early Online College: Your Path to Higher Education Starts Here!

What is Early Online College?

Early Online College gives qualified juniors and seniors in Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, Manassas Park City Schools, and Prince William County Schools an opportunity to take up to two tuition-free courses per semester. Certain jurisdictions allow for homeschool and private school students to enroll in Early Online College. Reach out to DualEnrollment@nvcc.edu for more information.

Early Online College Information Session

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 pm 

Join us for an information session designed to help you learn more about the Early Online College program and how to submit your request for enrollment. 

Register in advance for this meeting

Deadlines and Courses

  • Early Online College application opens Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
  • Early Online College Application Due Friday, July 25, 2025 at 5pm.
  • Online courses begin on Monday, September 22, 2025 and ends on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
  • The Drop date is Saturday, October 4, 2025.
  • The Withdrawal Date is Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

What Courses Can I Take Through NOVA's Early Online College?

All courses are offered online in an asynchronous format; you will not have real-time, scheduled meetings. This is a deadline driven course and you must meet course specific deadlines.

You can learn more about NOVA Online asynchronous courses here.

EOC Course Course Name Credits Estimated Cost of Materials
ARA 101 Beginning Arabic I 4 Electronic Textbook - $
CST 110 Introduction to Communication 3 Open Educational Resources
ECO 201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Open Educational Resources
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics 3 Open Educational Resources
GEO 210 People & the Land: Intro to Cultural Geography 3 Open Educational Resources
HIS 112 World Civilization: Post 1500 CE 3 Open Educational Resources
ITE 152 Introduction to Digital and Information Literacy and Computer Applications 3 Electronic Textbook- $
ITN 107 Personal Computer Hardware and Troubleshooting 3 Electronic Textbook- $
ITN 257 Cloud Computing: Infrastructure and Services 3 Electronic Textbook- $
MUS 121 Music In Society 3 Open Educational Resources
REL 100 Introduction to the Study of Religion 3 Open Educational Resources
SDV 100 College Success Skills 1 Open Educational Resources
SOC 200 Introduction to Sociology 3 Open Educational Resources

All students are enrolled in Barnes and Noble’s All Access program for course materials and responsible for the All Access payment ($22.50 per credit). Review details about NOVA All Access so you can make an informed decision and determine if you can opt out or make the payment in your MyNOVA account.

Open Educational Resources = No physical textbook is required for this course. Free, online resources are utilized, and students may opt out of All Access for the semester. Review details about NOVA All Access to determine if you can opt out for all courses for the semester.

Electronic Textbook - $ = You may make the payment for course materials in your MyNOVA account or opt out and purchase the course materials on your own. Review details about NOVA All Access so you can make an informed decision.

Information on obtaining your course materials through the NOVA All Access program is provided at the All Access website and electronic materials are provided via your NOVA student email on the first day of the course.

If you did not opt out of the NOVA All Access program, the cost of your course materials is included in the charges shown on your myNOVA SIS account summary. You are responsible for making this payment in your account. The Early Online College scholarship will cover the tuition balance, you are responsible for the All Access payment.

Early Online College courses run from February 4, 2025 – April 28, 2025.

Event Date
Early Online Application Opens Monday, October 28, 2024
Early Online Application Due Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.
Online Course Duration Begin on February 4, 2025
End on April 28, 2025
Course Drop Date February 16, 2025
Course Withdrawal Date March 26, 2025

What Courses Can I Take Through NOVA's Early Online College?

All courses are offered online in an asynchronous format—there are no real-time scheduled meetings. These are deadline-driven courses, and you must meet all course-specific deadlines.

To learn more about NOVA Online asynchronous courses, visit the Orientation site.

You can select your courses via the Dual Enrollment portal.

EOC Course Course Name Credits Estimated Cost of Materials
ARA 102
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ARA 101		 Beginning Arabic II 4 Electronic Textbook – $
ART 102 History of Art: Renaissance to Modern 3 Electronic Textbook – $
CST 110 Introduction to Communication 3 Open Educational Resources
ECO 201 Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Open Educational Resources
ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics 3 Open Educational Resources
HIS 101 Western Civilization Pre-1600 CE 3 Open Educational Resources
ITE 152 Intro to Digital & Info Literacy and Computer Applications 3 Electronic Textbook – $
ITN 101
Prerequisite or corequisite: ITE 152		 Introduction to Network Concepts 3 Electronic Textbook – $
ITN 106 Microcomputer Operating Systems 3 Electronic Textbook – $
ITN 257 Cloud Computing: Infrastructure and Services 3 Electronic Textbook – $
ITN 260
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ITN 101		 Network Security Basics 3 Electronic Textbook – $
REL 100 Introduction to the Study of Religion 3 Open Educational Resources
SDV 100 College Success Skills 1 Open Educational Resources
PSY 200 Principles of Psychology 3 Electronic Textbook – $

Open Educational Resources: No physical textbook is required. Free, online resources are provided. Students are automatically enrolled in NOVA All Access ($22.50 per credit hour). Review details about NOVA All Access to determine if you want to opt out or pay via MyNOVA.

Electronic Textbook – $: Students are automatically enrolled in NOVA All Access ($22.50 per credit hour). You can pay through MyNOVA or opt out and purchase materials on your own. Review NOVA All Access details.

For more information about accessing course materials, visit the NOVA All Access website.

If you do not opt out of the NOVA All Access program, the cost is included in your MyNOVA account summary. Tuition is covered by the EOC scholarship, but you are responsible for the All Access payment.

How Do I Apply to the Early Online College Program?

Step 1: Apply to NOVA

  • Complete your application to NOVA and select your admit term as Fall 2025.
  • Be sure to copy your EMPLID, username, and password for future reference.
  • If you have already applied to NOVA, please skip to Step 2.

Step 2: Complete Your Early Online College Application

  • Go to DualEnroll. First-time users must create an account using their personal email address and a new username and password. This is not the same as the NOVA login credentials you received when you applied to NOVA.
  • Returning users should log into their existing DualEnroll account.
  • Be sure to select Early Online College Fall 2025 as your term.
  • Choose two courses. If you select more than two, your request will not be approved.
  • All students must upload a current high school transcript and any additional qualifying score reports if they are using test scores to qualify for courses.

Step 3: Check Your Email for Updates

  • We will email you updates as we process your application. A timely response is required. All steps and required documents must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Tuition for up to two select courses will be paid via scholarship. Students do not owe tuition and fees for courses enrolled through the Early Online College program.

Students will be automatically enrolled in NOVA ALL ACCESS ($22.50 per credit hour). Review details about NOVA All Access so you can make an informed decision. You are responsible for the All Access payment or opting out of the program.

Make a Payment

Students will see a tuition bill for their Early Online College courses and may receive email reminders to make a payment. As long as you followed the registration steps and enrolled in an Early Online College section (DN) through the Office of Dual Enrollment, please disregard these reminders. NOVA will apply your tuition and fees to your account by the last day of the course.

If you did not opt out of the NOVA All Access program, the cost of your course materials is included in the charges shown on your myNOVA SIS account summary. You are responsible for making this payment. The Early Online College scholarship will cover the tuition balance.

Additionally, you are responsible for tuition and fees for any course enrolled outside of the Early Online College (EOC) program.

  1. Early Online College students must be a junior or senior attending Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, or Prince William County Schools. Students must provide a current transcript to demonstrate their enrollment in ACPS, APS, FCPS, LCPS, or PWCS.
  2. Students must be in good academic standing at NOVA. Learn more about academic standing at NOVA.
  3. Students may not repeat a course through Early Online College, although they may choose to retake a course through Independent Dual Enrollment at a NOVA campus or through NOVA Online, which requires students to pay NOVA tuition and fees.
  4. Students may take up to 18 credits per term (19 if taking SDV 100). This includes all NOVA coursework each semester. Learn more about NOVA's credit limit .
  5. Students must provide evidence of a qualifying score. All students must submit a current high school transcript. Additional test scores may be submitted to meet college readiness policies as outlined below:
    • High school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; or
    • PSAT EBRW score of 390 or higher; or
    • SAT EBRW score of 480 or higher; or
    • ACT English/Reading score of 18 or higher; or
    • Virginia Placement Test ENG 111 placement.

Early Online College courses are tuition-free! Please note that you will be charged tuition by NOVA, but the tuition will be paid during the semester by the College.

Textbook and other course material purchases may be required.

You may take a maximum of two courses through Early Online College. The Early Online Courses are designed for college credit only and are not intended to apply to high school requirements.

College Transcript
By enrolling in an Early Online College class, you are starting or continuing an official college transcript. You will be required to share this transcript with every college or university to which you may later apply.

Enrollment is Limited
Early Online College enrollment is limited, and individual courses may be further limited based on qualified instructor availability. You will be notified if your selected course is not available.

Accommodations & Accessibility
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disability services are available if you are currently enrolled, have a documented disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and are otherwise academically qualified. To request services for a NOVA class, apply online at the Accommodations and Accessibility Services page.

Early Online College students must be high school juniors or seniors currently enrolled in one of the following school districts: Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, or Prince William County Public Schools.

Students must meet the same academic eligibility requirements as dual enrollment students as outlined by the Virginia Community College System: Dual Enrollment Admission & Placement Criteria.

Students who have previously taken courses with NOVA must be in good academic standing.

EOC courses were selected because they apply to NOVA degrees and have a high percentage of transfer pathways. Courses are aligned with Virginia’s Uniform Certificate of General Studies requirements.

The Early Online College (EOC) program launched its first Career Studies Certificate (C.S.C.) opportunity in Fall 2023. EOC students can complete the C.S.C. in IT Technical Support through a two-year pathway at no tuition cost. In addition to earning the C.S.C. while in high school, students will be prepared for the following industry credentials: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, CompTIA A+ (Software/Hardware), CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+.

High school students may have their degree or certificate(s) added to their NOVA account for tracking purposes.

Please complete the Dual Enrollment Recommendation: Student Commitment to Complete Certificate or Degree (Form 125-345) if you are working toward a degree or certificate(s) at NOVA.

All EOC courses are offered asynchronously through NOVA Online (NOL). There are no regularly scheduled real-time meetings; however, you are expected to meet deadlines outlined in the course syllabus. Instructors are available for office hours and may offer virtual meetings throughout the course.

Students taking courses through NOL must have access to a computer and reliable internet. You may be required to participate in classes or take exams with your camera on.

Remote proctored exams may also require the use of the Respondus LockDown Browser, which must be downloaded to your computer.

For more information about NOL courses, visit the orientation section of the NOVA Online website.

No! Early Online College (EOC) courses are official college courses; final grades are recorded on your NOVA transcript. You will need to submit this transcript to any college or university you apply to in the future. As an EOC student, you have access to free online tutoring and NOVA Online Success Coaches to help you succeed—please take advantage of these resources!

Make sure you check your NOVA email regularly for reminders and updates from NOVA Online Learning (NOL) and your instructors. Be sure to begin on the official course start date.

If you need to drop or withdraw from your EOC courses, please use the following links:

NOVA Online instructors will teach courses. You will be enrolled in an EOC section and will not have the option to select your instructor.

Questions?

703.503.6291

dualenrollment@nvcc.edu