Please talk with your school counselor to see if Aspirations is right for you.  To register for an Aspirations course you will need to create an account or sign in to an existing account through the registration portal ExplorEC. 

ExplorEC is the online (paperless) registration portal for both Aspirations and Concurrent Enrollment courses.

Yes, Maine high school students can take Aspirations courses regardless of your location in Maine. We offer courses on-site in Presque Isle, at the Houlton Center, and online.

You can take any 100 or 200 level academic course for which you have met the course prerequisites as long as there is space available.  Please remember the credit hour limits for free tuition.

The State of Maine Department of Education and The University of Maine at Presque Isle cover tuition charges for up to a maximum of 12 credit hours per year.  The 12 hour limit applies to all early college courses combined across the University of Maine System campuses as well as the Maine Community College System and is contingent on state funding availability.

Students will be charged the early college rate for all hours over the 12 credit hour limit or if state funding expires.  There may be additional costs such as course fees, materials, and textbooks.  Please contact us for additional details.

There may be additional costs such as course fees, materials, and textbooks.

**Tuition calculations for eligible students in this chart do not include some course fees (if applicable) or cost of textbooks that are not covered by the tuition waiver program.

For Aspirations courses you need to sign up for your classes during the add/drop period at the beginning of the semester. View the Academic Calendar.  For Concurrent Enrollment courses please check with your school counselor.

Aspirations courses are taught by UMPI faculty through the UMPI campus or online.  Concurrent Enrollment are courses taught at high schools by UMPI-approved high school teachers. These courses cost $20/academic credit. They count toward your high school diploma AND toward the University of Maine at Presque Isle transcript. You can take Aspirations through the Presque Isle campus, Houlton Center, or Online.

Concurrent Enrollment offers both the UMPI course and high school course all rolled into one.  These courses are taught at our partner high schools by high school faculty in the high school that have university credentials. Successful completion of such a course allows students to earn both high school credit toward their high school diploma as well as college credit from UMPI that can be put toward a college degree.

A college degree or certificate has become increasingly important for the jobs of your future.  These jobs have much higher earning power on average, and over the course of your life, this could be in excess of a million dollars!  When you get an early start to college not only will you earn more sooner but you will spend a lot less to get there.

Aspirations courses that you take through UMPI will transfer to all other University of Maine System institutions, as well as to numerous private colleges. For specifics, talk to your school counselor.

Students taking an Aspirations course will receive a bill only if they exceed the 12 credit hour limit per year.

Please contact Student Financial Services in Preble Hall or at (207) 768-9510 if your bill is incorrect.  If you have enrolled in too many courses contact the Early College office.

Aspirations students must sign up by the add/drop period at the beginning of the semester.  View the Academic Calendar.

To drop/withdraw from a course, please contact the Early College office. Please be aware of the add/drop and withdrawal dates during the semester. Withdrawal dates also affect Concurrent Enrollment students, please check with your school counselor.

You can purchase your textbooks right through the campus store online.

Dropping a course and withdrawing from a course are essentially the same thing.  Both of these will officially remove you from the course. There is a set time period called add/drop at the beginning of the semester where you can drop a course and it will not be noted on your college transcript.

Withdrawing from a course is essentially dropping the course after the add/drop period ends. If you withdraw from a course, a “W” designation will be listed on your official college transcript.  The “W” simply means that you have withdrawn from the course and is not a grade or that you failed.  There are specific deadlines for both dropping and withdrawing from a course that vary from semester to semester. View the Academic Calendar.  For Concurrent Enrollment courses please talk with your school counselor.

You have all the same services available to you as a traditional UMPI students. These include tutoring, the Writing Center, and Student Support Services.

Aspirations and Concurrent Enrollment students will have access to online tutoring through Net Tutor.  Net Tutor offers several ways to connect for help including live conversations with knowledgeable tutors.  This serviced is accessed through your MaineStreet account once you are registered.  If you would like to schedule a tutoring appointment with UMPI tutors, please contact the UMPI Tutoring Center.

You are charged for any courses that you withdraw from after the add/drop period.

UMPI is legally required to protect student information, even with parents and guardians.  If your student is in an Aspiration(s) course, they may complete one of our FERPA consent forms in order for you to receive information about their grades.   This is possible through the ExplorEC portal.

More information about FERPA and links to download the forms are available on the Registrar’s website.

Yes! As an Aspirations student, you can attend any campus event with the exception of UMPI dances. Most events are free and open to the public.

Students who have 504 plans or IEPs in their high schools often feel that they wish to attempt college-level courses without these plans in place. There is a better way to approach this topic. Because the rigor of a college-level course is higher than that of a high school course, students are encouraged to reach out to Student Support Services.   Some of the services provided or coordinated for students with disabilities include testing accommodations, note-takers, ordering alternate format texts, classroom relocation, and advisement on disability issues.