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Free for qualified students.

Qualified concurrent enrollment and Aspirations students may earn up to 12 free credit hours per academic year which runs from May 1 to April 30. Summer semester courses count toward the following academic year (e.g. Summer 2024 classes count toward the 2024/2025 year). This total includes courses taken at Maine’s Public Universities and Maine’s Community Colleges as well as any courses taken through these colleges at local high school.

Maine high school students participating in Early College courses are responsible for course-specific fees (e.g. lab fees, travel/housing fees, materials or supplies fees, access-code fees, etc.).

Which students qualify for Aspirations funding?

Note: This is per Maine State Statue, not per University of Maine System policy.

  • Publicly funded high school students
  • Students who attend a high school or academy classified as a Private Schools Approved for the Receipt of Public Funds and who are not private pay tuition (taxpayer dollars pay tuition for public students to attend these schools such as Fryeburg Academy or Thornton Academy)
  • Home Educated students who have filed a letter of intent with their local school district and/or the Maine Department of Education
  • International students who are living with a host family, attending school per a Superintendents agreement, and are NOT paying tuition to that school (e.g. exchange program students)

Which students do not qualify for Aspirations funding?

Note: This is per Maine State Statue, not per University of Maine System policy.

  • Students who attend private schools and pay tuition
  • International students who are paying tuition to a public or private high school
  • Any Maine student who is paying tuition to attend a public or private high school
  • Any out-of-state student
  • Homeschooled students who do not fill a letter of intent with their local school district or the Maine Department of Education

How much do students pay if they do not qualify for Aspirations funding?

  • Maine high school students will be billed the Early College tuition rate.
  • The Early College tuition rate for Maine students is currently $149 per credit hour.
  • Students are responsible for course specific materials or travel/housing fees, even if they do qualify for Aspirations funding.
  • Students not attending a Maine high school should contact the Early College Administrator at the campus they wish to attend to learn more about costs for out-of-state students.

Frequently Asked Questions:

For additional help or information please contact your University’s Early College Administrator.

Back to Early College Resources