“I’ve always planned to go to Penn State. I’m a go-getter, so I enrolled in the Early College Program to start my future and get experience in college classes. Now, I’m comfortable on campus and I know what it takes to be successful at the college level. I look forward to coming every week. Penn State Fayette feels like home.” Maria Catalina, Southmoreland High School 2020
Get an early start on your college education with our new Early College Scholarship Program
Penn State Fayette offers an exciting opportunity for high school students to take college courses at a 50% tuition adjustment and earn scholarships. Qualified junior and senior students can prepare for the future by earning college credits, experiencing the workload of a college class(es), and becoming acquainted with a college campus and classroom. Credits earned can be applied to a Penn State degree and are part of one transcript, recognized by all Penn State campuses. Credits earned may also be considered for transfer to another institution in the same way as other Penn State credits.
Benefits of the Early College Program
- Earn 7-10 credits for $50 or less.
- Make early progress toward your Penn State degree.
- Take college courses taught by world-renowned Penn State faculty.
- Get a Penn State Photo ID card and personalized email access account.
- Experience classes in a university environment with Penn State Fayette students.
- Receive a 50% tuition adjustment on Early College Program classes.
- Earn $1,875—$2,675 in scholarships by enrolling into the Early College Program (student must matriculate to the Penn State Fayette campus and be enrolled full-time).
- Take advantage of our on-campus Student Success Center, tutoring, advising, library, career services, and computer labs
Early College Scholarship Program Course Description
CAS 100A: Effective Speech 3 Credits
Principles of communication, implemented through presentation of speeches, with some attention to group discussion and message evaluation. This general education course studies the purposeful use of oral communication as a means of addressing practical problems, both professional and civic. It is designed to introduce students to principles of effective public speaking, implemented through the design and presentation of individual speeches and through practice in message analysis and evaluation. Class size is limited and class meetings involve considerable attention to developing public speaking skills through in-class and online learning activities, collaborative learning, peer critiques, and analysis of public speeches and other messages.
How to Enroll in the Early College Scholarship Program
Students interested in the Early College Scholarship Program must first complete an application and submit all documents to the Penn State Fayette Admissions Office.
- Complete and submit your Early College Scholarship Program Application on the left-hand navigation bar.
- After all documents for the Early College Scholarship Program application have been received, students will be evaluated for the program. You will receive a phone call from the Admissions Office to notify you of your approval.
Contact the Admissions Office at 724-430-4130 with additional questions.
Payment Options and Costs
“I plan to go to Penn State Fayette because it’s close-to-home and more affordable than other schools in the region where I’d have to pay for room and board. The Early College Program was an opportunity for me to get a head start by taking classes like Effective Speech. It’s a world of difference from high school—I feel more independent and prepared for my first year, and I know I’m going to thank myself.” Jacob Mariotti, Geibel Catholic High School 2020
Penn State will offer a 50% tuition adjustment to all students attending courses through the Early College Program. Student Account Statements are generated on a monthly basis. No paper statements will be mailed. An email notification will be sent to the student's official Penn State email account and to the email address of any authorized payers set up on the student account when the Student Account Statement is available to view and/or pay on LionPATH.
Student Account Statement
eStatement
Student Account Statements are generated monthly. No paper statements will be mailed. An email notification will be sent to the student's official Penn State email account and to the email address of any authorized payers set up on the student account when the Student Account Statement is available to view and/or pay on LionPATH.
The Student Account Statement includes the amount due for courses enrolled, fees, as well as anticipated aid (grants, accepted loans, or other financial assistance) that is available at the time the statement is prepared.
Early College Scholarship Program Options and Costs
Spring 2021 Option: Students enrolling in the Early College Scholarship Program in their Junior Year of High School
- Students will complete a total of 10 credits.
- Enroll in CAS 100A-Effective Speech during the first semester of the program (Spring 2021).
- Enroll in an additional 2 courses (3 credits each) of their choice. Courses will be selected from the list of courses provided by the Early College Scholarship Program advisor and may be completed in the Spring or Summer semester of their Junior year or Fall semester of their Senior year.
- Enroll in a 1-credit seminar course during the final semester of the program (Spring 2022).
Students completing this option will receive a scholarship of $2,675 upon enrollment as a full-time student at Penn State Fayette. The scholarship will be applied to the first-year student tuition bill. All requirements must be fulfilled for scholarship to be applied to first-year tuition bill.
The first class meeting will be on Wednesday January 20, 2020 from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. through Wednesday, April 28, 2021.
An in-person orientation is tentatively planned for Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10am. We will monitor the situation and offer a virtual orientation if needed to ensure health and safety of everyone. Students will receive an email the week of January 11, 2020, confirming orientation location and format.
The course will meet via live zoom sessions to begin the semester and will have some in-person classes later in the Spring. A web component (Canvas) will also be included to deliver course content and facilitate interactions with your classmates.
Additional requirements for all students are as follows:
- Apply to Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus and enroll as a full-time student after graduating high school.
- Students must complete Early College courses with a grade of C or higher to remain in the program.
- Students may take additional classes at the discounted tuition rate while completing this program, however, scholarship funds will remain capped at the $1,875 or $2,675 applied to first-year student tuition.
| Spring 2021 Option: High School Junior-Total of 10 Credits | Tuition* |
| Spring 2021 3-credit CAS 100A | $817.50 |
| Additional 6 credits completed throughout Summer 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022 | $1,635.00 |
| Spring 2022 1-credit seminar | $272.50 |
| Upfront Cost for Spring 2021 Option (10 college credits)** | $2,725.00 |
| Early College Scholarship*** | $2,675.00 |
| Cost to student when scholarship is recuperated at time of full-time enrollment to Penn State Fayette | $50.00 |
*Based on PA residency. Tuition is subject to change.
**High school students receive 50% tuition adjustment for all classes completed while enrolled in Early College Program.
***Early College Scholarship is received and applied to first-semester tuition bill upon full-time enrollment at Penn State Fayette.
Option I: Students enrolling in the Early College Scholarship Program in their Senior Year of High School (Fall 2021)
- Students will complete a total of 7 credits.
- Enroll in CAS 100A-Effective Speech during the first semester of the program (Fall 2021).
- Enroll in a 3-credit course of their choice for the Spring 2022 semester. The course will be selected from the list of courses provided by the Early College Program advisor.
- Enroll in a 1-credit seminar course during the final semester of the program (Spring 2022).
Students completing this option will receive a scholarship of $1,875 upon enrollment as a full-time student at Penn State Fayette. The scholarship will be applied to the first-year student tuition bill. All requirements must be fulfilled for scholarship to be applied to first-year tuition bill.
Additional requirements for all students are as follows:
- Apply to Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus and enroll as a full-time student after graduating high school.
- Students must complete Early College courses with a grade of C or higher to remain in the program.
- Students may take additional classes at the discounted tuition rate while completing this program, however, scholarship funds will remain capped at the $1,875 or $2,675 applied to first-year student tuition at Penn State Fayette.
| Option I: High School Senior-Total of 7 Credits | Tuition* |
| Fall 2021 3-credit CAS 100A or CAS 100B course | $817.50 |
| Spring 2022 3-credit course and 1-credit seminar | $1,090.00 |
| Upfront Cost for Option 1 (7 college credits)** | $1,907.50 |
| Early College Scholarship*** | $1,875.00 |
| Cost to student when scholarship is recuperated at time of full-time enrollment to Penn State Fayette | $32.50 |
*Based on PA residency. Tuition is subject to change.
**High school students receive 50% tuition adjustment for all classes completed while enrolled in Early College Program.
***Early College Scholarship is received and applied to first-semester tuition bill upon full-time enrollment at Penn State Fayette.
Option II: Students enrolling in the Early College Scholarship Program in their Junior Year of High School (Fall 2021 Start)
- Students will complete a total of 10 credits.
- Enroll in CAS 100A-Effective Speech during the first semester of the program (Fall 2021).
- Enroll in an additional 2 courses (3 credits each) of their choice. Courses will be selected from the list of courses provided by the Early College Scholarship Program advisor and may be completed in the Spring or Summer semester of their Junior year or Fall semester of their Senior year.
- Enroll in a 1-credit seminar course during the final semester of the program (Spring 2023).
Students completing this option will receive a scholarship of $2,675 upon enrollment as a full-time student at Penn State Fayette. The scholarship will be applied to the first-year student tuition bill. All requirements must be fulfilled for scholarship to be applied to first-year tuition bill.
Additional requirements for all students are as follows:
- Apply to Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus and enroll as a full-time student after graduating high school.
- Students must complete Early College courses with a grade of C or higher to remain in the program.
- Students may take additional classes at the discounted tuition rate while completing this program, however, scholarship funds will remain capped at the $1,875 or $2,675 applied to first-year student tuition.
| Option II: High School Junior-Total of 10 Credits | Tuition* |
| Fall 2021 3 credit CAS100 course | $817.50 |
| Additional 6 credits completed throughout Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall 2022 or Spring 2023 | $1,635.00 |
| Spring 2023 1-credit seminar | $272.50 |
| Upfront Cost for Option II (10 college credits)** | $2,725.00 |
| Early College Scholarship*** | $2,675.00 |
| Cost to student when scholarship is recuperated at time of full-time enrollment Penn State Fayette | $50.00 |
*Based on PA residency. Tuition is subject to change.
**High school students receive 50% tuition adjustment for all classes completed while enrolled in Early College Program.
***Early College Scholarship is received and applied to first-semester tuition bill upon full-time enrollment at Penn State Fayette.
