Essex County College

901 Hadley Road, South Plainfield, NJ

About
Essex County College, located in Newark, New Jersey, was founded in 1966.The school began classes in 1968 through a temporary location, moving to its permanent home in University Heights district in 1976. The school is one of the larger community colleges in the state, serving the entirety of Essex County. The school's urban campus covers three city blocks, and provides students with modern facilities to utilize in their educational growth. Essex County College is a public, two year, open enrollment institution dedicated to providing residents the best educational and career educations possible.

Academics
Essex County College offers a variety of programs, allowing students to choose one that suits his or her academic or career goals. Programs result in either a certificate or associate degree and take between one and two years to complete. Academic transfer programs prepare students for transfer to a four year university, allowing them to complete the freshman and sophomore years of a bachelor's degree at low cost prior to transfer. Once completed, students will apply to a four year institution to continue their education. Four year schools have varying requirements for transfer and it is advised that students pursuing such transfer should meet with an academic advisor to develop a curriculum that best suits the transfer requirements of a student's desired school or schools.

Career and technical training programs educate students in a particular field, preparing them as professionals for entry into the workforce. Students enrolled in such a program will receive a practical and classroom education, developing skills and abilities necessary to perform daily tasks and functions. Graduates of a career or technical program will receive a certificate or degree demonstrating competency and allowing the individual to seek work immediately upon graduation at the entry level. These programs typically reflect community needs and are offered for high demand or growing fields.

Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Liberal Arts
• Paralegal Studies
• Nursing
• Environmental Science

Admissions and Financial Aid
As an open enrollment institution, any student who meets the minimum requirements for admission will be admitted once they have submitted their application. Students will be asked to take a placement exam in order to determine which general education courses they will begin with. It is advised that students meet with a counselor to discuss goals, programs, and curriculum prior to registration.

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs. Such aid is offered by the state and federal governments, and typically offered based on need. Students requiring financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the resulting student aid report (SAR) from which will be used to determine need, program eligibility, and monetary awards. Some scholarships may be awarded based on academic merit, and students meeting the criterion for consideration should apply prior to noted deadlines. Some students may be required to provide additional financial information prior to the disbursement of funds to ensure the accuracy of the information provided by the SAR.

Athletics
Essex County College participates in intercollegiate athletics through the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division XIX and the Garden State Athletic Conference. The school supports intercollegiate athletics as it provides students a forum of healthy competition that allows for the development of skills and habits useful in one's academic, personal and professional career, such as teamwork, discipline, and  good health. Additionally, the camaraderie developed by teammates working toward the same goal allows for a unique experience that may result in personal and group success. Start dates for athletic programs vary, and as such interested students should visit the athletic department to get tryout dates and times.

Athletic programs offered:

• Basketball
• Soccer
• Cross Country
• Track and Field