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Transfer Agreements

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One College. Multiple Pathways.

Highland has built strong transfer partnerships with colleges and universities across the region, giving students more pathways to continue their education and pursue a wide range of majors and degrees.

Our faculty, advisors, transfer coordinator, and partner institutions work closely together to keep courses aligned and credits transferable whenever possible. From general education requirements to degree-specific coursework, we’re committed to making the transfer process straightforward, supportive, and easy to navigate so students can move forward with confidence.

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Cooperative and Reciprocity Agreements

The goal of these agreements is to allow our residents to have access to programs that Highland does not currently offer at the lower in-district tuition rate. In turn, students from other college districts have access to degree programs that HCC offers – given that their college district doesn’t offer the degree or certificate.

Illinois Community College Board

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The Illinois Public Community College Act allows students who wish to complete a program not offered in their home community college district to pay in-district tuition rates at another Illinois community college offering the degree or certificate.

Blackhawk Technical College

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This agreement allows HCC students to access programs offered at BTC that are not available at Highland. Students in BTC’s region can access programs at HCC that are not available in their home district. Students participating in these programs will not be required to pay out-of-district tuition and will receive the same priority for admission as in-district students.

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

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Southwest Wisconsin

This agreements allows HCC students to access programs offered at SWTC that are not available at Highland. Students in SWTC’s region can access programs at HCC not available in their home district. Students participating in these programs will not be required to pay out-of-district tuition and will receive the same priority for admission as in-district students.

General Transfer

Highland’s courses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and are transferable to other two- and four-year institutions. HCC has a number of transfer equivalency guides with public and private four-year institutions in the region so that you can see exactly how Highland credits are equivalent to the transfer institution’s courses.

Major Specific Transfer Agreements

Columbia College of Missouri

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Columbia College of Missouri – Freeport has been located on the HCC campus since 1996, offering bachelor’s degrees in a wide-range of majors. Students benefit from having a Columbia administrator and advisor on-site.

NIU College of Engineering

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This agreement with Northern Illinois University will make it easier for HCC automotive technology and wind turbine technician students and graduates to earn a Bachelor of Science in Technology degree from NIU without leaving the region.

Western Illinois University

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Students interested in pursuing a four-year degree in broadcasting now have a direct path to completing their Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting at Western Illinois University. Students complete an AA degree with an emphasis in Media Studies, then transfer to WIU for their final two years to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting with a choice of emphasis in sports broadcasting, news/performance or production.

Western Illinois University

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Western University

HCC students may dually enroll at HCC and WIU, taking one course through WIU to complement their Highland course schedule in a range of majors. HCC and WIU will collaborate to provide advising and financial aid services for students under the Linkages partnership. The agreement is designed for the student who declares WIU as their baccalaureate-degree seeking institution.

Olivet Nazarene University

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Olivet Nazarene University

This agreement makes way for Olivet Nazarene University to offer an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing completion program on the Highland campus. Classes are held once a week in the evening and online with the core program completed in 21 months. Courses are also offered online.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Uiniversity of Illinois Urbana Champaign

This transfer agreement between HCC and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) states that Highland students completing prescribed transfer-degree programs at HCC will be admitted to UIUC College of ACES at junior-level status in a relevant field of study.

Illinois State University

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The Illinois State University Articulation Agreements affect programs including Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education Specialist in Learning and Behavior, and Special Education Specialist in Learning and Behavior Online (PULSE).

The purpose of this agreement is to create a smooth transfer process, minimize duplication of instruction and build on student learning experiences for those transferring from HCC to ISU.

Western Illinois University Honors Program Agreement

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According to the agreement, all honors coursework at HCC will transfer hour-for-hour toward the lower division honors requirements in the Centennial Honors College at WIU. Ten hours of transferred honors coursework from HCC are sufficient to complete the course requirements to graduate as a lower division honors scholar at WIU. To graduate as a lower division Honors Scholar at WIU, a student must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher at WIU upon graduation.

Questions or for more information

For more information about these agreements and how they may benefit you, contact:

Admissions and Records

P: 815.599.3414 or E: admissions@highland.edu.