ASSOCIATES DEGREE
An Associates Degree is a two-year degree that generally requires upwards of 60 credits to complete. You can earn a High School Equivalency Diploma and an Associates Degree at the same time.
To gain credit for a high school equivalency diploma, you must complete 24 of your 60 credits as follows: 6 credits in English language arts, 3 credits in mathematics, 3 credits in humanities, 3 credits in natural science, 3 credits in social science and 6 credits related to your major.
The only location in Westchester County to offer this option is Westchester Community College. This link takes you to their full program description. Note that they encourage you to attend an information session, which can take place at the Gateway Center in Valhalla or the Mount Vernon Extension Campus.
Tuition costs will apply for all courses. The cost per credit for a Westchester County resident is $197 (Spring 2022). Full-time tuition (12 credits minimum per semester) is $2,365 (excluding books and fees). Financial aid is available.
When you apply to the community college, you will be given placement exams (called ACCUPLACER) to determine in which areas you have already have excelled and those areas that need additional instruction. The exams covers five subjects – arithmetic skills, elementary algebra, sentence skills, reading comprehension, and a written essay. Want to get a sense of how you would do? Go to the ACCUPLACER website to download sample questions and download a free practice app.