Navigating Admission to Collin College: A Comprehensive Guide

Collin College, operating under an “open door” policy, welcomes a diverse range of students. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the admission requirements, covering general eligibility, specific program criteria, residency considerations, testing requirements, and other essential information for prospective students.

General Admission Requirements

Collin College operates under an “open door” policy, making education accessible to a broad range of individuals. Students who are 18 years of age or older are generally eligible for admission. However, the college also provides pathways for other students who may be admitted under special admission requirements.

To avoid delays, completing all admission requirements/tasks in advance of registration is recommended, with registration options being self-service.

Transcripts

Official transcripts are required from all institutionally accredited colleges/universities attended. Failure to provide a transcript will result in future registration at Collin College being blocked and ineligibility to receive Collin College transcripts. If no college/university has been attended, a high school transcript or GED may be required.

Students Requiring Additional Review

Students who are 18 or older and are not a high school graduate or GED completer OR students who are under 16 and have completed high school or its equivalent may require additional review prior to admission to the College.

Read also: About Collin College

Selective Program Admissions

While Collin College has an open-door policy, certain programs have selective admission criteria. These programs require departmental acceptance to enroll. These programs include:

Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Clinical Operations Management
Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction Management
Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Activity Care Professional
Child Development
Central Sterile Processing
Culinary Arts
Dental Hygiene
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Emergency Medical Services Professions
Fire Academy/Fire Science
Health Information Management
Medical Assisting Advanced Practice
Nursing
Pastry Arts
Pharmacy Technician
Physical Therapist Assistant
Polysomnography Technology
Rehabilitation Aide
Respiratory Care
Surgical Assisting
Surgical Technology
Veterinary Technology
Vocational Nursing

High School Concurrent Enrollment/Dual Credit

The High School Concurrent Enrollment/Dual Credit program is designed for high-school-aged students who are ready to begin earning college credits. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rule changes that went into effect in Summer of 2024 allow college students enrolled in high school to be classified as non-degree seeking students. Per the Texas Education Code a dual credit student is required to have a degree plan on file after earning 15 credit hours, unless the TSIA2 does not to apply to the student, or the student is exempt from the TSIA2. Until a dual credit student files a degree plan, the student may be classified as a non-degree-seeking student.

Dual Credit students only need to meet waiver requirements in the domain(s) for which they are enrolling. Dual Credit students with a minimum ACT-Aspire English score of 435 or higher will be waived from the TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR). Dual Credit students with a STAAR English II of 4000 or higher will be waived from the TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR).

International Students

Applicants on temporary visas may be eligible for admission. The applicant is from an approved TOEFL exempt country. Submit transcripts (i.e., mark sheets, school records) from the foreign high school or college attended. Foreign transcripts will not be evaluated. Institutional TOEFL score reports of 525 (or higher) from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), the University of Dallas, or the University of Phoenix will be accepted in lieu of an official TOEFL score report. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended in the United States with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees should be paid in full prior to the first class day unless the student has enrolled in Collin College’s installment payment plan.

Academic Fresh Start

State law (Education Code, Sec. 51.931) allows students who are residents of Texas and who have academic credits earned 10 or more years prior to the starting date of the semester in which they seek admission to Collin College to have those credits or grades not considered in the admission decision. Note: This is an all or nothing option. Students are not able to pick and choose which courses to include or exclude. If the “Academic Fresh Start” option is selected, credits for any courses taken 10 or more years ago will not be counted. Students must submit an application for Fresh Start prior to enrollment at Collin College, preferably at the time of admission. The application is available through the Registrar’s Office. Students will not be granted Fresh Start until they have completed their admissions process. The final authority on applying or interpreting the State law (Education Code, Sec. Academic Fresh Start impacts only your academic record.

New Student Orientation and Training

While all First-Time In College students (freshmen) are required to complete New Student Orientation prior to registration, all students are encouraged to attend. The purpose of orientation is to provide a comprehensive overview of available campus services, resources, and opportunities. All entering freshmen and transfer students must complete online training on active shooter preparedness, campus safety, hazing, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and suicide prevention. Hazing is a criminal violation under Texas law and is prohibited at Collin College, on Collin College property, or while attending Collin College-sponsored activities on or off campus. A person commits an offense if the person engages in hazing; solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another in engaging in hazing; recklessly permits hazing to occur; or has first-hand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student at Collin College, or has first-hand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge in writing to the dean of students or other appropriate Collin College official.

Residency Requirements

To be considered a Texas resident for tuition purposes, students must have clearly established a domicile in Texas for the 12 months preceding enrollment. An out-of-state student is an individual who has not resided in Texas for 12 months preceding registration. Most students on temporary visas will also be classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes. The responsibility for registering under the proper residency classification is that of the student, and any question concerning the student’s right to classification as a resident of Collin County must be clarified prior to enrollment at Collin College. Students not documenting county or state residency prior to census date of the term will be charged the higher rate. Tuition refunds due to residency changes will only be made for college errors. Documentation submitted after census, see the academic calendar for date, which result in a residency change will be effective dated to the next semester. Changes of address, name, etc. must be reported promptly to Student and Enrollment Services. This enables students to receive registration and other information from various college departments and programs. Documentation of Texas residency will be required in order to pay in-state tuition.

Students who have not lived in Texas for the 12 months preceding registration, but who own residential property in Collin County, may be eligible for an ad valorem waiver. A copy of the deed or most recent property tax statement is required for verification. If this waiver is based on a student’s (under age 24) parents’ property ownership, go to Student and Enrollment Services for the proper form to complete. This form must be completed each semester until Texas residency has been established (12 months); ad valorem waivers expire and additional residency must be provided. Property owners on most types of temporary visas are not eligible for the ad valorem waiver.

Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment

Testing Centers are located at the Celina, Farmersville, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Technical, and Wylie campuses for the Texas Success Initiative (TSIA2) Assessment for course placement, higher level math assessment, credit by exam testing, limited instructional testing, ESL assessments, and proctoring of correspondence exams.

The Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA2) is a program designed to determine if a student is ready for college-level course work in the general areas of English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and Mathematics. The TSIA2 mandates that all new students entering Texas public colleges and universities be assessed in the basic skills of reading/writing and mathematics unless the student is not subject to the TSI or is otherwise exempted. is enrolled in high school and is not a degree seeking student at an institution of higher education (i.e. a dual credit student who has not filed a degree plan with Collin College and is not required to do so).

Before taking the initial TSIA2 Assessment, a student must participate in a Pre-assessment Activity (PAA) located online.

TSI Exemptions

Several exemptions exist for the TSIA2, including:

SAT with an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 480 or higher shall be exempt from both reading and writing (or ELAR).
STAAR End of Course Test with a minimum score of 4000 on STAAR English III EOC shall be exempt for both reading and writing (ELAR).
A student who successfully completes a college preparatory course is exempt for a period of 24 months from the date of high school graduation with respect to the content area of the course (ELAR and/or mathematics).
A student who successfully met or completed college readiness standards in reading/writing (ELAR) and/or mathematics at any Texas public, private, independent institution of higher education or accredited out-of-state institution as determined by the receiving institution (i.e.

Documentation for a student who, on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States. Note: ACT or SAT scores can be no more than five (5) years old. Students with an ACT Math score of 22 or higher are exempt from TSI Math even if the student does not meet the English/Reading requirement. Students with a combined English and Reading score of 40 or higher are exempt from the TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) even if the student does not meet the Math requirement. Students with an ACT Composite score of 23 (or higher) can be exempt from TSI Math with an ACT Math score of 19 (or higher) even if the ACT English score is less than 19. Students with an ACT Composite score of 23 or higher can be exempt from the TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) with an ACT English score of 19 (or higher) even if the ACT Math score is less than 19. Students with an SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing score of 480 or higher can be exempt from TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR). are pursuing a Level I workforce certificate of no more than 42 hours. have successfully completed College Preparatory courses. This waiver is only available for two years from the date of high school graduation. Successful completion of College Prep English/Language Arts allows for a waiver in TSI English Language Arts Reading (ELAR).

Students who are below college level in either the English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) or Mathematics Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) areas are required to meet with an advisor or complete an online survey during their first semester at Collin College. Students will be required to have regular contact with an advisor until they are TSIA complete in both areas.

Developmental Education (DE)

Although students receive grades for DE courses, those DE courses do not apply toward a degree or certificate. The DE credit does not transfer to other institutions, and DE grades are not calculated as part of the student’s grade point average (GPA) shown on transcripts. If a student’s scores on the basic skills assessment indicate that a student would be better prepared by taking a DE course prior to or along with enrolling in a college-level course in a related field, the student must enroll in the DE course before or along with enrolling in college-level courses in that field of study. The developmental education program has evolved from independent courses to co-requisite courses explicitly connected to college courses due to HB 2223 in the 2017 Texas legislative. A co-requisite course is a developmental education course that must be taken with a math, English, history, or government course. DE courses may be taken for a combined total of no more than 18 credit hours without incurring additional fees of $50 per credit hour. This additional fee is applied because the state of Texas will not pay a state subsidy for any DE credit hours in excess of 18 credit hours.

Collin College offers pre-algebra and algebraic skills courses to enable students to acquire a solid foundation for successful performance in college level mathematics courses. All Developmental Math students are required to visit with an Academic Advisor to help determine the most appropriate path to meet their education/career goals as well as consideration for the requirements of potential transfer college or university programs.

Math Pathways

Algebra Intensive Path. This path supports students who enroll in MATH 1314 - College Algebra or MATH 1324 - Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences.
Quantitative Literacy Path. This path supports students enrolled in MATH 1342 - Elementary Statistical Methods or MATH 1332 - Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning).

Students must take an assessment (via the Testing Center) for placement purposes. Once placed in a course, many support services are provided to enable students to succeed.

Integrated Reading and Writing (INRW)

The ability to write clearly and accurately is critical to success in academic and professional pursuits. The Integrated Reading and Writing program provides instruction in all aspects of planning and producing academic prose in preparation for the TSI writing assessment and for ENGL 1301. The rubric for this coursework is INRW.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Students wanting to enroll only in English as a Second Language (ESL) coursework can do so without taking the TSIA2 assessment. Collin College offers English for speakers of other languages to build their confidence and skills in listening/speaking, grammar, reading, writing, vocabulary development, and study skills. Classes are designed for various interests, personal needs, academic needs, and skill levels. The ESL courses offered by Collin College for college credit are designed to prepare students with the language skills needed for English language proficiency and academic success. New students wanting to enroll in a credit ESL course must take the ESL New Student Assessment and meet with an advisor. ESL New Student Assessment scores are valid for one year. These scores are used for course placement only and do not affect the admission status of students. The ESL courses offered by the credit ESL program include courses in ESL Listening and Speaking (see ESLC courses), ESL Grammar (see ESLG courses), ESL Reading (see ESLR courses), ESL Writing (see ESLW courses) and some specific skills focused courses in Pronunciation and Accent Modification, Vocabulary and Idioms, and Test-taking & Study Techniques (see ESLX courses).

Application Process

Apply for their preferred semester at www.applytexas.org. Please be sure to select the correct option. CNA/Phlebotomy/PCT applicants ONLY - Schedule your virtual application interview. MyLearning for CE students.

Application Deadlines

Phlebotomy application window: Jan.
CNA and EKG application window: Jan.
Application window: Feb. 23-Aug.
Application window: Aug. 10, 2026-Jan.

Additional Requirements

overall interview/application video scores.
tracker, and completion of the required background check.
requirements.
a professional license or certification that is required for employment.
of a program.
for licensure, including other examinations and professional experience.

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