Get Started: How to Apply

At HACC, we do our best to take the stress out of applying to college. Most of our applicants can follow a simple five-step process to become a student at HACC.

 

Before You Get Started

You have different instructions if you are looking to take HACC courses:

You will follow the same five steps but will have additional instructions (below) if you are a:

  • transfer student
  • veteran or an active military service member
  • guest student (students who attend another university full-time)
  • student age 65+

If you have any questions regarding what kind of student you are or what instructions you should use, please contact our Admissions department by emailing start@hacc.edu or calling 1-800-ABC-HACC (select 4). We’re here to help.

 

Let’s Get Started
  1. Create an account.
     
  2. Apply to HACC.
    If you applied within the last five years but didn’t register for courses, all you need to do is update your starting term.
     
  3. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    Use HACC’s school code: 003273
    Learn more about the FAFSA and student aid
     
  4. Submit your transcripts. You need to submit transcripts if:

a. You plan to use financial aid. Learn more
b. You graduated high school within the past 10 years.
c. You graduated high school more than 10 years ago and are planning to study in a pre-health profession OR you are applying to a major that includes the following courses: BIOL 101, BIOL 121, BIOL 221 and/or CHEM 101.

NOTE: All transcripts must be provided in English. Need assistance?

  1. Check your email address used to complete your application to receive HACC’s acceptance email. Use the directions in your acceptance email to activate your myHACC account. Note that by activating your account, you are accepting your offer of admission.


Specific information for:

Transfer Students

You will follow the same five-step process to become a HACC student. The only difference is you likely have credits you will want to transfer.

Official transcripts can be sent electronically to record@hacc.edu. Once we have received your application and your official transcripts, a transfer evaluation will be completed for you. We will notify you via your HAWKMail email address once your evaluation is completed.

You will then attend New Student Orientation and meet with an academic advisor to review your transfer credits, select courses and register for the upcoming semester.
 

Active Military and Veteran Students

You will follow the same five-step process to become a HACC student. The only difference is that you likely have military benefits you can apply to your education. Here’s what you need to know.

GI Bill
Apply online at www.gibill.va.gov.

  • Chapter 30, 33, 1606 - VA Form 22-1990 (Please use VA Form 22-1995 if you previously used benefits at another school.)
  • Chapter 31 VR&E should meet with a VR&E counselor
  • Chapter 35 and Fry scholarship - VA Form 22-5490 (Please use VA Form 22-5495 if you previously used benefits at another school.)
  • Chapter 33 Dependent -VA Form 22-1990E (Please use VA Form 22-1995 if you previously used benefits at another school.)
  • Upload any additional entitlements (e.g. Kicker or College Fund) to your VA application.
  • Email the VA application confirmation page from the VA application and DD-214 or NOBE to vaoffice@hacc.edu.
  • Send your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to vaoffice@hacc.edu when you receive it.

EAP and FTA

Education Assistance Program (EAP) and Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) students should work with their unit of assignment or education office to apply for these benefits.

Please contact vaoffice@hacc.edu or 717-780-2331 for information about military/veteran educational benefits and how to use your benefits at HACC.


Guest Students (Students who attend another university full-time)

You are considered a guest student if you are currently enrolled at another college and taking courses at HACC. Guest students take HACC courses to fulfill their home institution’s degree requirements.

You will follow the same five-step process to become a HACC guest student. The only difference is that you will have to go through a few extra steps to ensure your HACC credits transfer to your current academic program.

  1. Before applying as a guest student, ensure your credits will transfer by consulting your home college’s advisor or registrar.
  2. Get an unofficial transcript from your home institution.
  3. Fill out and submit the Guest Student Course Approval Form. The Guest Student Course Approval form confirms you meet course prerequisites.
  4. Guest students can’t get financial aid from HACC. However, a consortium agreement between colleges determines your aid eligibility and ensures processing through your home institution. Request this agreement from your home institution and send it to financialaid@hacc.edu when completed.

Please contact the Welcome Center at onestopwc@hacc.edu if you have any questions or if you need help with either the Guest Student Course Approval Form or the Consortium Agreement Form.

Note: HACC doesn’t automatically transfer credits from other institutions for guest students. If you want to transfer credits to HACC, apply as a transfer student.

If you’ve taken courses at HACC in the past five years, you do not need to reapply. However, you might need to update your student type (e.g., from dual enrollment to guest). Please contact our Welcome Center at onestopwc@hacc.edu to make changes to your myHACC account.



Students who are 65+

Central Pennsylvania’s senior citizens can continue their life-long learning in credit classes at HACC. Seniors can audit most credit courses tuition-free and only pay the fees.

You will follow the five-step process to become a HACC student. When you are filling out the online application, you will select “Personal Enrichment” as your area of study. In order to take a class, you must meet the course prerequisites, which may include placement testing.

Participants must register for the course no more than five days before the start of a term and will be accepted on a “seats available” basis. Noncredit programs, developmental courses, study abroad courses and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are excluded from the 65+ program.

Please contact our Welcome Center at onestopwc@hacc.edu or 800-ABD-HACC for more information.


Frequently Asked Questions

How much time does it take to apply?

Creating an account and filling out an application will likely take you about 20 minutes.


How long will it take before I hear if I am accepted?

You will hear back within three to five business days. Please pay close attention to your email, and activate your account when you receive your acceptance email.