Project Second Chance

Atlantic Cape Community College offers eligible students an opportunity to earn the college credits required to apply for a state diploma through a program called Project Second Chance.

Students who are accepted to the Project Second Chance Program must complete the required 30 college credits in specific academic disciplines. Please note, remedial courses do not meet these college credit requirements. A grade of "C" or better is needed in all courses in order for the class to be used in awarding the diploma.

What is a State Issued High School Diploma?

The New Jersey Department of Education offers adults who did not complete high school an opportunity to earn a State-Issued High School Diploma.

Program Benefits:

Students are accepted to the college and can participate in campus life while simultaneously completing college credits toward their State-Issued High School Diploma and Associate degree program. Other benefits of the program include:

• Attending regular college classes
• Obtaining one year of college credits
• Qualifying for a state-issued high school diploma
• Opportunity to continue and earn an Associate's degree

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants are non-high school graduates who are at least 18 years of age.

How to Apply:

Applicants must first be admitted to Atlantic Cape Community College by submitting an Application for Admission and indicating their interest in the program in the High School Information section. After acceptance to Atlantic Cape, the student must take the College's Placement Test to determine preparedness for college-level courses.

Applicants who score below college-level English and mathematics on the college's Placement Test, must enroll and complete any recommended developmental courses prior to entering the Project Second Chance Program. Applicants whose test scores place them in college-level English and mathematics may directly enter the program.

Students can discuss the Project Second Chance Program in person with an academic advisor at any of our three campus locations or by calling the Career and Academic Planning Center, 609-343-5621.

Financial Aid:

Due to new federal regulations, students who first enroll in a program of study on or after July 1, 2012 at Atlantic Cape must have completed their High School Diploma or GED to qualify for Title IV (Federal) funding. Please visit the Tuition and Fees page for more information on associated tuition costs and payment options. 

New Jersey State Requirements:

To obtain a New Jersey State-Issued High School diploma, students must be New Jersey residents and older than the age of 16 (please note: Atlantic Cape's program requires the student to be at least 18 years of age). Students are required to complete 30 general education college-level credits before they may apply for a state-issued diploma. Students must complete the following courses:

Steps to Applying for a State Issued Diploma:

• Upon successful completion of the required college-level credits, students can apply for a New Jersey State-Issued High School Diploma by submitting the following to the New Jersey State Department of Education:
  • A completed "Thirty College Credit Application for a State-Issued High School Diploma"
  • An official Atlantic Cape transcript (sent directly from Atlantic Cape)

Applications and program details are available from the Center for Student Success. Call (609) 343-5621 for additional information or email Eric Stewart at [email protected].