Early Admission

Early Admission: Spend your high school senior year as a full-time SPC student

We are excited to offer you an opportunity to get a head start on qualifying for the Early Admission programs for the next school year. This initiative, made possible through a partnership between St. Petersburg College and Pinellas County Schools, allows you to earn high school and college credits simultaneously at no cost!

This full-time program enables students to spend their senior year attending all classes at SPC campuses, where they can fulfill high school graduation requirements while earning college credits. There are no costs for applications, tuition, or required textbooks.

The Early Admission program is offered at the following campuses: Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, Seminole and St.Pete/Gibbs, admission is limited. Although Early Admission students no longer attend classes at their high school, they remain enrolled in their assigned high school and can participate in the school’s extracurricular activities while taking classes at SPC. Students follow the SPC academic calendar.

LEARN MORE AT OUR INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR THE 2025-26 ACADEMIC YEAR

In-Person Info Sessions

• Clearwater Campus – November 5, 2025*
  *New this year: Clearwater info session will also be offered in Spanish! We're excited to make this session more accessible to our Spanish-speaking community.
• St. Pete/Gibbs Campus – November 3, 2025
• Seminole Campus – December 2, 2025

Please check back for updates. Session times and locations will be announced soon.

2026-2027 EARLY ADMISSION APPLICATION TIMELINE

• Application Opens: November 3, 2025
• Priority Application Deadline: 11:59 PM, January 10, 2026
• Priority Invitations Sent: Week of January 26, 2026
• Final Application Deadline: 11:59 PM, February 10, 2026
• Final Invitations Sent: Week of February 16, 2026
• Early Admission FAQs

Who's eligible?

To qualify for the Early Admission Program, students must be enrolled in a Pinellas County public high school for the entire second semester of their junior year and have completed at least three years of high school with a minimum of 18 credits. In addition, they must meet the required GPA and College Placement Test scores.

College-Level Expectations: Students participating in this program are expected to demonstrate a higher level of independence, maturity, and self-advocacy. This includes taking the initiative to communicate directly with SPC faculty and staff, seeking help when needed, and managing their academic responsibilities proactively.

Early Admission Information Session Documents

• How Do I Obtain an SPC ID Number
• College Course Placement
• PERT Instructions
• HOPE Early Admission Flyer
• Early Admission Application Directions
• Differences Between High School and College
• Accessibility Services Dual Enrollment/Early College/Early Admission Students

Which program is right for you?
Compare SPC's Dual Enrollment, Early College and Early Admission programs

What's required to enroll?

• Unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Satisfactory scores on the College Placement Test (CPT/PERT) or PSAT/AT/ACT.
• Completion of Biology, Geometry, Personal Financial Literacy, HOPE and World History graduation requirements.
• All standardized state assessment graduation requirements met.
• Completion and submission of the Application for Early Admission to College form and current transcripts.
• Enrollment in a minimum of 15 credit hours each term and maintaining at least a 2.0 (C average) college GPA.
• Transportation to classes at SPC.

How to Apply

1. You must attend an information session. Check this website for upcoming dates and times.
2. If you haven’t previously applied to be a St. Petersburg College student, complete a St. Petersburg College application for “High Schools Programs Student.” This will generate your SPC ID number.
3. Complete the College Placement Test. Register for a testing session via the following link: stpe.co/PERT.
4. See your high school counselor to learn more about Early Admission and to verify eligibility.
5. Submit all required items via the PCS Student Reservation System (during the application period) by the established January/February deadlines.

EARLY ADMISSION PROGRAM SUPPORT

The EA classroom is a place that provides support, advisement, and a quiet study environment when students are on campus. It also houses the EA Academic Counselor along with numerous computers for research and study purposes. Students are invited to utilize the classroom and the resources available throughout the school day.

Resources available for Early Admission students:

• Weekly seminars discussing academic success, college and career information/planning, Bright Futures Scholarship, other financial aid information
• Daily sign-in with academic counselor
• Study groups
• Development of goal setting, goal monitoring and self-advocacy skills
• One-on-one advising
• Credit Checks are shared each semester to monitor successful completion of high school and the AA Degree graduation requirements
• Strong culture of positive peer support
• And much more

Interested in staying at SPC after high school?

If you are currently enrolled in high school and want to continue your college education at SPC after you’ve met all your high school graduation requirements, please complete the SPC Supplemental Application and follow the necessary steps upon completion to becoming a postsecondary student at SPC.

Early Admission Contacts

Meet the Team