Dutchess Community College (DCC, DCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Dutchess Community College (DCC) is a two-year community college that is part of the 30 community colleges of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The college primarily serves the people of Dutchess and Putnam counties and offers the lowest college tuition in the state of New York. Founded in 1957, the first classes at Dutchess were held in 1958.

The college is located about 70 miles north of New York City in the town of Poughkeepsie in Dutchess County, to the east of the Hudson River. There is another extension site, DCC South, in Wappingers Falls. The main campus at Poughkeepsie is spread over 140 acres and features the Allyn J. Washington Center for Science and Art, Bowne Hall, Center for Business and Industry, Drumlin Hall, Dutchess Hall, and the Francis U. and Mary F. Ritz Library.

DCC is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges.

Information Summary

Ranks 210th in New York and 3126th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	49.2
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$20,122
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	29 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	61% / 43%
Enrollment Total (all students)	8,582

Academics

The degrees offered at Dutchess include the Associate in Science (A.S.), Associate in Arts (A.A.), and Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees. The Associate in Science (A.S.) and Associate in Arts (A.A.) degrees are aimed at students who eventually want to transfer to a four-year college or university. These are two-year programs and comprise a core of liberal arts and science courses, additional required special courses related to the student’s field of interest, and electives. The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree is a two-year program that prepares students for a specific career area. The degree programs offered at DCC are available for various fields of study, such as architectural and construction technologies, aviation science, art, business, and liberal arts and sciences.

The certificate programs offered at the the college include the Academic Certificate and the Applied Academic Certificate programs.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Dutchess has adopted the Full Opportunity Plan of the State University of New York, wherein admission is granted to any person whose academic record and qualifications demonstrate competency to benefit from a college education. Students can seek either full-time or part-time admission to the college. Full-time students are enrolled for 12 or more credits per semester whereas part-time students are enrolled for 11 or fewer credits per semester.

Students seeking admission to DCC are required to submit the admission application forms and high school or college transcripts or GED scores. First-time college students are required to take the COMPASS/ASSET academic placement tests. ACT/SAT scores can be submitted, but they are not requirements for admission.

International students need to submit the international application for admission and a certificate of finances to demonstrate availability of funds to finance educational expenses for a year. They are also required to submit their high school and college transcripts. Lastly, international applicants are required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English by submitting their TOEFL scores.

Financial Aid

Dutchess participates in a variety of financial aid programs to help students manage their educational expenses. Different forms of financial aid available to students include: federal and state grants, loans, work-study opportunities and scholarships. Students interested in these opportunities must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education.

The major federal and state aid programs for Dutchess students include the Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), and New York State Aid for Part-time Study (APTS). Students may also be eligible for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal PLUS Loans. Student employment options include on- or off-campus part-time employment, community service, state work-study, and other regular part-time jobs. Various scholarships available for the students of DCC include the Charles and Mabel Conklin Scholarship, Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship, Melanie A. Kotes Memorial Chemistry Science Scholarships, and McCann Foundation Scholarship.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5880th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in New York.

Students

Student services form an integral part of the total educational program at DCC. The Counseling and Career Services Office provides career guidance, educational counseling, transfer counseling, personal counseling, and job placement assistance to students. The Educational Opportunity Program provides support to students having limited financial and academic preparation. A day care center is available for parents at the college. The Student Activities Office is responsible for ensuring the enhancement of the students’ college experience by arranging trips, Friday night films, speaker series, on-campus events, and family festivals. The Student Government is a student body that promotes leadership skills. The college has numerous clubs, including Alpha Beta Gamma, Communications Society, Gamers Guild, Outdoor Adventure Club, Human Services Club, and Sci-Fi Alliance. The student newspaper is known as the Chronicle and offers staff positions to first- and second-year students. Dutchess also features a bookstore that stocks textbooks, school supplies, greeting cards, reference materials, and Dutchess-imprinted gifts.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

DCC is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Mid-Hudson Athletic Conference. The official college colors are buff and blue, and the athletic teams are known as the Falcons. The college athletic teams participate in cross country, soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, golf, baseball, tennis, women’s softball, and bowling.

Dutchess Community College