You can take as much, or as little, as you need to meet your professional development goals. We have many students who want more training in literacy or math and science curriculum, so they just take that course. Others enroll in the degree and finish their degree with us. Federal financial aid can only be used by students who matriculate in the degree program, so if you need to have financial aid to cover the tuition costs for the one course you'd like to take, then you'll need to officially apply to our program. You can download the application in the Advisor's Office

Absolutely! Many of our students apply for, and receive, financial assistance from the federal government and their state government that helps pay for the tuition costs. See the fafsa website in the Advisor's Office to apply for aid on-line. If you qualify, you'll get an award letter letting you know which grants and loans for which you qualify. Remember, grants are like scholarships; they don't need to be paid back. Loans, even low-interest or no-interest loans, will bring loan payments when you finish your degree. By the way, a computer is considered an educational related expense when you're enrolled in distance education, so you can use your surplus aid to purchase a home computer.

No. We do not use test results from either the SAT or the ACT for admission decisions.

First of all, we have an advisor that will help you make these types of decisions. Second, you'll be taking placement tests in both English and math that will help our advisor know what level will match your current ability. These tests are available on-line for free and do not need a proctor. (Warning: Being dishonest on these tests means being placed in a course that's too advanced!) Every college has their own tests, so even if you recently tested for another university, we'll still require you to take our tests. They're specific to our unique courses.

Yes! When you fill out your application, indicate your previous college course work. Contact those institutions and have them send an official copy of your transcript to Rick Lang's attention at the address under "contact us" on this website. Our advisors will evaluate your previous course work and transfer as many credits as possible towards your degree. Please see our "Partners in Education" page to see if your college has an articulation agreement with ECLC!

Our tuition for 2008-09 is $648 per 3 credit hour course for the Associate's degree. (Residents of Ohio pay $618 per course.) Bachelor's courses are $816 for non-Ohio residents and $786 for Ohio residents. We will waive your application fee, matriculation fee, and registration fees.

You'd be surprised at how long high school hold on to their records! If you're applying to the Associate's degree program, contact your high school and ask about a transcript to be sent to Rick Lang's attention at the address under "Contact Us" on this website. We need to see that you did graduate from high school, which is our only admissions requirement. We'll also accept a copy of your GED certificate. Make sure you let us know if your transcript will arrive under your maiden name. Many of them didn't use social security numbers for tracking.

Through a special agreement with the Dept. of Defense, we can offer credit towards the completion of our associate's degree for completion of the childcare modules for infants, toddlers, family childcare and preschoolers only. Our agreement does not include the modules for school-age care. When you have completed an additional 9 hours in our program, have applied to our program, and have presented your IDP or 1098 for evaluation, you will be awarded 18 credit hours. It's a great way to get a head start on your associate's degree!

The CDA is an important first step on your professional development quest. It marks your success as you studied, completed your competency statements, compiled your portfolio, and satisfied the Council for Professional Recognition. We understand your dedication to your field, and we've devised test-out options for those teachers who completed their training in a program setting, rather than a college setting. The tests measure what you know in areas of health, safety, professional practice. If you pass the test, you're able to buy credit for the corresponding course at a greatly reduced rate, without taking the course. If you don't know the information in the test, you'll need to enroll in the courses to assure yourself you have the strong foundation necessary to perform well in the more advanced courses. Teachers who completed their training in a college setting may submit their college transcripts for transfer consideration.

Many states have CEU requirements for CDA renewal or other purpose. You can meet those requirements by attending conferences, participating in workshops, and other professional development opportunities. Usually, these types of events do not assess the learning that has taken place, only that you have spent some time in a chair. But we bet that you don't teach your kids a new concept and then send them home. We bet you do some assessment to be sure that they learned what you were teaching. You ask them questions, you ask them to demonstrate their new skill, you incorporate this new skill into the next day's lesson. This is the way college credit works. We must know that you learned what we were teaching, so we assess you, through tests or written assignments. If you prove you mastered the skills, you are awarded college credit. Because CEUs don't carry significant assessments, they can't carry college credit.

Most advisors will tell you that you should study 9-10 hours per week per course. That includes reading the texts, watching the lectures, using the Internet for interaction with other students and your fellow students, doing your homework, and submitting it via Blackboard. Distance education allows YOU to choose which hours you block off for studying. Some students prefer early morning hours, and others prefer to stay up late, after their own kids are in bed.

The average age of the ECLC student is 39, which means that most of our students did not grow up in the Age of Technology. Our office staff and help desk offers assistance and general hand-holding as needed! You should be able to use the very basic functions of Microsoft Word and know how to access and browse the internet. If you got this far on our website, you're probably OK!