Returning Adult Students

Welcome to SUNY Schenectady

“I decided to enroll at the College because I felt like I needed to integrate some deeper meaning into my life. I wasn’t necessarily feeling fulfilled with what I was doing and I wanted to follow my passion for helping people in recovery. I had been in recovery for years already and it made sense for me to follow through on that. I was getting involved with advocacy at the time. I wanted to be an agent of change. I wanted to make a difference."

“I had tutoring whenever I needed it. The advisors were fantastic with giving encouragement and helping me navigate balance because as a returning adult student I had a lot of responsibilities. I also had a financial scholarship where my tuition for the last year was covered. I owe a great deal of my current happiness to the support I got at SUNY Schenectady.”

Martina Swiers ’16, Chemical Dependency Counseling (A.A.S. degree) and Human Services (A.S. degree), Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC)

Thank You

Thank you for considering SUNY Schenectady County Community College as your choice for a quality and affordable education! Not only are we are the most affordable college in the Capital Region, but we also have a wide variety of courses to choose from–all taught by our diverse and regionally recognized faculty.

As a returning adult student we know first-hand how difficult it can be to juggle your day-to-day life while working to obtain your educational goals. Don’t worry–we’re here to help you through the process of enrolling at SUNY Schenectady and we’ll continue to provide you the resources and support throughout your time at the College.

First Thing To Do - Apply!

Applying at the College is an easy process. You can fill out a paper application or you can apply online. Since we are an open-admission institution, we require no specific grade point average from your high school record. Most of our programs have no special admissions requirements other than being a high school graduate or its equivalent.

We’ll help guide you in contacting your former high school for the state required information. Many of our students come to us having earned credit at other colleges. Our Registrar’s Office will evaluate your college transcripts for possible transfer credit.

You may also be eligible for credit from prior learning. Workplace learning, professional development trainings, industry and professional certifications, and military training are just some of the prior learning that might qualify. Learn more about credit for prior learning.

We make it convenient to attend as the College offers many evening, weekend, and online courses. There are resources on campus to help you once you become a student, including The Learning Center, along with free in person and virtual tutoring. There are laptops available for loan and an IT Helpdesk in the Learning Commons for you to get immediate help with your computer questions. We also have affordable child care options available. Visit our Childcare Resources page for details.

For step-by-step instructions to the enrollment process, please read our Admissions To Enrollment Checklist - Six Basic Steps.

Previously a Student?

If you were previously matriculated at SUNY Schenectady (accepted for admission and took classes), there’s no need to go through the admissions process again. Visit or contact our Registrar’s Office so they can help you with the paperwork you need to become re-enrolled.