Admissions and Registration

Admission to the College

Admissions: 432-335-6400
Wrangler Express: 432-335-6849

Odessa College is committed to equal consideration of all qualified applicants for admission without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin, and without regard to disabilities as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

An applicant will be eligible for admission to the college when the Office of Admissions has on file a completed application form along with all other items required under the appropriate admissions category. Assessment procedures are used for placement in particular courses or programs, not as a basis for admission to Odessa College.

Once an applicant is admitted to Odessa College and registers for classes, that person’s file becomes part of the permanent Odessa College file. The student may continue to register for credit classes from one semester to the next unless the student becomes ineligible for scholastic, financial or disciplinary reasons. Students who return to OC after not enrolling for one or more semesters are responsible for verifying accuracy of their address and other contact information, reaffirming residency status for tuition purposes, and supplying appropriate transcripts if the student has attended any other college or university since last attending Odessa College.

Applying for Admission

Please note: Applications can be filled out online in the Wrangler Express Center, first floor of the Saulsbury Campus Center. You also may apply online, by going to www.odessa.edu, clicking on the Start Here icon, selecting the Apply Now link and following the provided steps. As of the fall 2006 semester, all students applying for admission or readmission must complete a core residency questionnaire to determine residency status for tuition purposes. Students may also be required to submit documentation of TSI (Texas Success Initiative) status. All transcripts and other official documents submitted for admission purposes become the property of Odessa College and will not be returned to the student.

1. Returning Students Not Currently Enrolled – Students who have attended OC but have not taken classes within the last calendar year must reapply for admission in the Admissions Office.
2. High School Graduates – Graduates from an accredited high school need to submit an official high school transcript with date of graduation and rank in class. Odessa College defines an accredited high school as a Texas public high school authorized through the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or if located in a state other than Texas, that state’s comparable agencies and/or regional accrediting association.
3. TxCHSE or GED – Students who have successfully passed testing requirements under the Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency (TxCHSE) or a General Education Development (GED) Test must submit official TxCHSE or GED test scores.
4. Transfer Students – Transfer students who are seeking admission must provide an official transcript from every institution attended.
5. Visiting Students/Non-degree Seeking – Visiting students are enrolled in another college or university and only wish to take a few courses at OC for transfer. Non-degree seeking students also may be students who attend for personal interests or enrichment. These students are not eligible for Title IV federal grants, loans, or work-study assistance and are limited to 15 semester credit hours in this status. They may not be required to provide official copies of all transcripts from every college or university previously attended.
6. Homeschooled Students – Homeschooled students seeking admission to Odessa College are required to:
   1. Be at least 16 years of age.
   2. Submit an application for admission at www.applytexas.org.
   3. Comply with TSI requirements.
   4. Provide official transcripts according to the Homeschool Transcript Guidelines along with a notarized Verification of Homeschool Completion form. Additional documents may be required.
7. Individual Approval – Includes individuals who have graduated from any unaccredited high school or nontraditional setting, as well as any person 18 years of age or older who does not qualify under categories 2, 3, 4 or 5 above. Students admitted on individual approval without a TxCHSE/GED certificate of completion or high school transcript with official graduation date and rank are not eligible to receive Title IV federal financial assistance. OC may request an official copy of completed coursework. Students admitted under individual approval may appeal the status to the review committee in writing. Additional documents may be required.
8. International Students – Applicants from outside the United States may be admitted to Odessa College by meeting regular admission requirements and deadlines set for receipt of materials for international students. International students must agree to comply with all international student regulations in order to remain enrolled. Deadlines for receipt of materials: March 1 for summer, June 1 for fall, October 1 for spring. Please contact the Enrollment Services Coordinator at internationals@odessa.edu. Applicants’ files must contain the following:
   1. Odessa College International Application for Admission and Registration Survey.
   2. A $50 (U.S. currency – money order, cashier’s check, credit or debit card) non-refundable application fee.
   3. A deposit of $1,500 (U.S. currency – money order, cashier’s check, credit or debit card) to be held in escrow. The deposit will be returned to the student during the last semester of the student’s study with OC.
   4. Copy(ies) of passport information (name, passport number, address, etc.)
   5. Official high school/secondary or college/university transcript(s). Transcripts must be translated into English. (Athletes must provide a high school/secondary and college/university transcripts if transferring). Please click here for a list of Foreign Credential Evaluation services.
   6. Demonstrated proficiency of the English Language. Acceptable tests, official score reports and /or course work that a student from a non-English speaking country can submit for consideration are the following:
      1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 525 on the paper test or 61 on the Internet based test. For testing information visit: www.ets.org/toefl
      2. International English Language Testing Sysem (IELTS) - minimum score of 6
      3. TSI Assessment - 342 on the reading and a writing - essay score of 4 or an essay score of 4 and a multiple choice score of 332
      4. SAT - minimum score of 480 on the critical reading or Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test (EBRW)
      5. ACT - minimum score of 19 on the English test
      6. CLEP - minimum score of 50 with essay on the English test
      7. International Baccalaureate Program - minimum score of 4 on the English A1 Higher Level (HL) exam
      8. Two consecutive years of English at the secondary/high school or college/university level with a passing grade and a minimum score as indicated on one of the approved tests outlines in items i through vii may also be submitted for consideration.
   7. When receiving a borderline score on an above English proficiency test, the Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management may select a panel of Odessa College employees to further evaluate English proficiency based on interview conversations, transcripts showing English instruction, additional English proficiency tests or writing samples. Contact the Enrollment Services Coordinator for additional information at internationals@odessa.edu.
   8. A physician’s statement with evidence of good physical health and showing proof of immunization against diphtheria and tetanus within the last 10 years, a negative result on tuberculosis test and a bacterial meningitis vaccination if under the age of 22 and attending a Texas college or university for the first time.
   9. Financial statement showing proof of a minimum of $17,000 in available funds per calendar year to cover educational and living expenses. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid through Odessa College Student Financial Aid Office.
   10. Proof of medical insurance prior to registration. Verification of medical insurance is required for each subsequent semester of enrollment.
9. Special Enrollment Opportunities for Current High School Students include:
   1. Dual Credit – High school freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors can earn college credit through Odessa College while they earn high school credit through their high school for selected courses. Students must have permission of the school district and their parent/legal guardian. The dual credit program is open to students who meet the following criteria:
      1. Have the appropriate score on the TSIA, STAAR EOC, PSAT, SAT or ACT;
      2. Have an overall high school grade point average of 2.0 or above in the semester immediately preceding enrollment in a college course;
      3. Have the approval of their high school counselor and parent/legal guardian; and
      4. Pay tuition fees for the college courses unless other arrangements have been made.
         
         High School students interested in dual credit enrollment opportunities should contact their high school counselor for assistance with course selection. Dual credit students must be TSI exempt or must pass the TSIA in the content area(s) of courses they wish to take.
   2. Early Admissions – Odessa College will consider for early admissions, active high school students on the basis of individual merit. Students must have permission of the parent/legal guardian.
      
      Under the Early Admissions program, a student can enroll for a course or courses for college credit, but the course or courses may not count for high school credit. It is permissible for a student to participate in both Dual Credit and Early Admissions at the same time.
      
      Early Admissions student must provide the same materials as students in Dual Credit and contact the Dual Credit Office at 432-335-6476 about testing requirements.
       
   3. Early College High School - Odessa College, in partnership with Ector County Independent School District (ECISD), offers two early college high schools. The high schools start with the 9th grade and are housed on the Odessa College campus. Students are selected through a process determined by ECISD.
      1. Odessa Career & Technical Early College High School (OCTECHS) - students take high school and college level classes in select programs with a career and technical education (CTE) focus to complete an associate degree in addition to their high school diploma. For more information contact the OCTECHS offices at 432-456-6400.
      2. Odessa Collegiate Academy - students take high school and college level classes with an arts and sciences focus in order to earn an associate degree or 60 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree in addition to their high school diploma. For more information contact the OCA offices at 432-456-6429. 

Programs With Selective Admissions Requirements

Admission to OC does not automatically include admission to all programs at the college. The following programs have selective admissions criteria. If a student anticipates enrolling in one of these programs, he or she should check with a department representative about program admission requirements:

• BAAS - Automation
• BAAS - Entrepreneurship
• BAAS - Occupational Safety & Heath Management
• Cosmetology
• Emergency Medical Services
• Fire Academy
• Nursing
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Radiologic Technology
• Surgical Technology

Odessa College Success Initiative Plan

A primary focus of Odessa College is to provide students with the opportunity to learn and be successful in reaching their educational goals. A significant part of providing these opportunities rests in activities to determine the college readiness of each person who enrolls for credit classes at OC. An individual who is not able to demonstrate college readiness in reading, writing, and/or mathematics will be directed to appropriate programs to bring those skills to the college readiness level through the college’s Success Initiative Plan.

Odessa College’s Success Initiative Plan has been developed in compliance with the requirements of the Texas Education Code, Sections 51.307, 51.3062 and 51.403(e). The official transcript of each student will clearly indicate the student’s status for college readiness according to the Odessa College Success Initiative Plan.

All students enrolling at Odessa College on or after September 1, 2003, fall under the provisions of the Success Initiative Plan.

Success Initiative Standards

Prospective students may demonstrate college readiness by presenting official documentation of the approved exemption or passing scores on any of the approved tests. See “Exemptions/Waivers ” for specific information. All new students who are not exempt must test. Odessa College administers the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA).

Advising and Developmental Requirements

Students whose test scores do not demonstrate college readiness in an area will be advised by a Student Success Coach as to the appropriate developmental course sequence for each area where developmental work is indicated. Students will be provided with a course of study plan clearly showing all developmental work to be completed to allow students to advance to college-level course work.

Students must begin appropriate developmental work the first semester of enrollment. Those who do not make a passing score in any of the three areas will be advised to enroll for appropriate developmental course work in at least two of the three skill areas. Enrollment according to the student’s developmental plan will be continuous by semester until college readiness is documented by their grades or test scores. Students who present test scores showing only one area of deficiency are required to enroll in appropriate coursework in that area the first semester of enrollment and continue until college readiness is documented by their grades or by placement (TSIA) test scores.

Acquiring and Demonstrating College Readiness

Tables presented within the Success Initiative section or in individual subject areas of English, reading and math show the recommended placement in each subject area based on scores presented by the student. In all areas, students who are placed in developmental courses based on test scores are required to earn a grade of “C” or higher in each developmental course in order to progress to the next course in the sequence and eventually to the appropriate college level course.

When students with initial test scores above the state minimum deviation score have earned a grade of “C” or higher in all courses in a developmental course sequence, they will have satisfied requirements in the Odessa College Success Initiative Plan and will be eligible to enroll for college level courses in the related skill area.