General Admission Requirements

This section lists the general requirements for admission to certificate¹, diploma, and associate degree programs of study available at Athens Technical College. (Applicants should submit all required documentation as listed in this section to the staff at the campus they plan to attend the majority of their classes). Refer to the Programs of Study section for specific admission requirements. To gain admission to Athens Technical College, applicants must complete the following steps:

• Admissions Application and Application Fee — All applicants must submit a complete admissions application with a nonrefundable $25 application fee. The Admissions Office staff will not process applications received without the mandatory application fee. Include applicant's name on checks or money orders so the Business Office will credit the proper applicant account. 
• Official² High School Transcripts — Applicants must be high school graduates or have earned the GED to gain admission to the college. Applicants must have graduated from a secondary school accredited by an agency included in the list of recognized agencies of accreditation issued by the Technical College System of Georgia or a public school regulated by a school system and state department of education. Home-school students who graduate from an unaccredited home school program may follow an alternative path for admission as described in Home School Admission. Applicants who have not completed at least 30 semester credit hours or 45 quarter credit hours of study at one or more colleges must submit official high school transcripts or official transcripts of GED test scores. The Admissions Office staff must receive these documents before they can process prospective students' applications for admission. On occasion, staff members may process applications for admission and then place holds on the records if transcripts from the last institution attended have been received. High school seniors must submit transcripts showing their high school enrollment when they submit their applications for admission to the college. However, high school seniors must submit official transcripts again once they graduate from high school in order to document the actual graduation date. 
• Official² College Transcripts — Applicants who attended one or more colleges prior to applying for admission to Athens Technical College are required to submit official transcripts from each college they attended in the past to the Admissions Office at Athens Technical College. Applicants enrolled at other colleges when they submit applications for admission to Athens Technical College must send official transcripts showing the courses they are taking at that time. These applicants must submit official transcripts again to document the final grades issued for those courses. Applicants who previously attended out-of-state colleges may be required to provide applicable course descriptions before the director of registration and records can evaluate transcripts from those colleges. The director of registration and records will not evaluate transcripts for transfer credit until the Admissions Office receives transcripts from all colleges previously attended by the applicant.
• Post Secondary Transcripts — Students who wish to have prior college credit evaluated for transfer or intend on using a funding source that requires the evaluation of prior college credit, such as HOPE Scholarship or Veterans Educational Benefits, must submit all post-secondary transcripts along with their admission application.
• Placement Test Scores — Applicants may need to submit placement test scores as part of the admissions process. Prospective students may submit official copies of ACCUPLACER, COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT scores. Applicants seeking admission to associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs must meet minimum exam scores. SAT exams administered prior to March 1, 2016, must have a minimum of 290 in critical reading and 380 in math. SAT exams administered after March 1, 2016, must have a minimum score of 17 in math and 17 in reading or minimum ACT scores of 14 in English, 17 in math, and 16 in reading. Applicants who submit scores lower than the minimums stated above or who have not taken the SAT or ACT within five years of the application deadline must take the ACCUPLACER placement examination or submit official copies of ACCUPLACER or ASSET test scores from other colleges (see ACCUPLACER Placement Examination). Applicants who have successfully completed equivalent program-level English and mathematics courses or who have earned associate degrees (or higher credentials) will not be required to submit placement test scores provided they submit official college transcripts at the same time they submit their applications for admission. International students who apply to the college must take the placement test in order to determine proficiency in reading and writing. Any student who has graduated from a Georgia High School within the last 5 years preceding their enrollment date, can exempt placement testing requirements by submitting an official High School transcript showing a calculated HOPE GPA of 2.60 or higher. The student will be deemed 'program ready' with this documentation. The final and official high school transcript will be used to document the graduation date.
• Proof of Residency and Verification of Lawful Presence — All students applying for in-state college tuition must provide proof of lawful presence in the United States and proof of Georgia residency. All new and returning applicants must submit this documentation. Students should submit documentation of lawful presence and residency as soon as possible so that their tuition rates can be calculated appropriately. Students who are lawfully present in the United States but have not resided in the State of Georgia for at least the past 12 months will be charged tuition at the rate two times the rate paid by Georgia residents. Students who are not lawfully present in the United States shall pay tuition at a rate of four times the rate paid by Georgia residents. Applicants who hold green cards or who qualify under refugee or asylum status must submit photocopies of their resident alien cards as part of the admissions application packet. Students who cannot be verified as lawfully present in the United States are not eligible to be considered for in-state tuition regardless of how long they have lived in Georgia. In addition to being lawfully present in the United States, students must meet the in-state tuition requirements as outlined in the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog and student handbook to warrant in-state classification. Students that are initially classified as out-of-state and successfully petition to have their residency changed to in-state also have to meet the lawful presence verification requirement.

• Proof of Residency for Military Personnel and Dependents — Students who are members of the Armed Services, National Guard, or Armed Forces Reserve, and their dependents may be eligible for an in-state tuition waiver provided they are stationed in Georgia and on active duty, are legal residents of Georgia and stationed out of state, or are former military service members who within 36 months of separation establish proof of their intent to make Georgia their residence (see Eligibility for In-State Tuition Waivers).
• Students who wish to have prior college credit evaluated for transfer or intend on using a funding source that requires the evaluation of prior college credit, such as HOPE Scholarship or Veterans Educational Benefits, must submit all post-secondary transcripts along with their admission application.

Completing the Admissions Process

Once applicants' files are complete, the Admissions Office staff will process the admission packet and notify applicants in writing or by email of their admission status. This letter or email provides information about completing new student orientation, accessing student email accounts, and registering for classes for their first semester of planned attendance. New students must bring their letter of acceptance to initial advisement and registration sessions.

• Financial Aid Application — Applicants who seek financial aid must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at studentaid.gov at least four weeks prior to the early admission application deadline of the semester for which they seek admission (see Financial Aid). Applicants who do not submit financial aid applications by the appropriate deadline will be personally responsible for paying tuition and fees at the time of registration. Prospective students receiving financial assistance from the Veterans Administration (VA) are personally responsible for paying tuition and fees at the time of registration.
• New Student Orientation — All newly accepted students must complete the New Student Orientation before they can register for classes for the first semester. The orientation introduces new students to college policies and procedures.
• New Student Registration — All newly accepted students will receive information from the Office of Admissions on the dates, times, and locations for new student registration. Students must bring their acceptance letter, information sheet, and a printout of the confirmation email that they have successfully completed New Student Orientation in order to meet with an advisor and to complete the registration process.

¹ Students who are over 62 years of age will be enrolled only on a space available basis and will not displace any students desiring to enroll who are residents of the state of Georgia (see Legal Residency Requirements for details).

² Official means mailed or emailed directly from the releasing high school/college to the receiving college or hand-delivered in a sealed envelope from the releasing high school/college to the receiving college.