Frequently Asked Questions

A select group of freshman applicants are invited by University Admissions to participate in Towson University’s Freshman Transition Program. Students take Community College of Baltimore County courses taught by CCBC faculty on TU’s main campus in the late afternoon and evening. They have the option to live in TU’s residence halls and receive the same support services as TU students. After successful completion of the program, students have a seamless transition into Towson University and transfer their CCBC credits to TU. Students do not have to reapply to TU.

Your admission application demonstrated that you would be successful in the program, given your current academic record. The FTP will give you the opportunity to be admitted to TU as early as the spring term. There is no separate application process for the FTP. Towson University selects participants from its regular applicant pool, and students may not opt-in to the program.

Submit your online participation agreement along with the $200 nonrefundable enrollment deposit to TU. Your participation agreement must be received and processed by University Admissions before you can activate your TU Net account. The university will use this account to contact you about important business. Once the agreement has been processed, a confirmation email will be sent to your new TU account with instructions to request housing online. FTP students are not required to live on campus. 

No. All courses are taught on TU’s campus by CCBC faculty. All freshman support services are provided by TU.

To confirm your admission to the Towson University Freshman Transition Program and determine your math placement, you must take the online ALEKS Practice Placement, Preparation and Learning Assessment. You have to place into Introductory Algebra (CCBC’s MATH 082) or higher. 

All placement testing must be completed at Towson University by April 19, 2024, following this process: 

• Register now for FTP placement testing. Placement testing must be completed on site at Towson University in accordance with the posted testing sessions, on a space-available basis. Placement testing begins in early March. Register now for your preferred testing session as seats will fill quickly. 
• Complete the ALEKS pre-registration process (at home on your own).
• Take the Unproctored Practice Placement at home on your own without assistance to ensure an accurate customized Prep and Learning Module.
• Complete at least 3 hours of review and practice in your personalized Prep and Learning Module before the first Proctored Placement Assessment at TU on the date for which you registered.
• Take the Proctored Placement Assessment at TU.

ALEKS is an adaptive test of approximately 30 questions. It takes about 90 minutes to complete, although you have a 24-hour window in which to work.

• Real numbers (including fractions, integers, and percentages)
• Equations and inequalities (including linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations)
• Linear and quadratic functions (including graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas), exponents and polynomials (including integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations), rational expressions (including rational equations and rational functions)
• Radical expressions (including higher roots and rational exponents)
• Exponentials and logarithms (including function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations
• Geometry and trigonometry (including perimeter, area, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations)

No, but you are welcome to live on campus as long as you submit your housing application by the deadline.

Unfortunately, university-affiliated housing is not available due to how FTP students are billed and how their financial aid is processed.

As long as the request is mutual, the Housing and Residence Life office will do their best to accommodate your request.

While it is possible that you will be housed with another student in the program due to your similar class schedules, it is also possible that you will be housed with a non-FTP TU freshman. Housing assignments are based on availability.

Possibly. You will need to send an AP and IB exam scores and unofficial (non-CCBC) college transcripts to the Program Coordinator to ensure there is no course duplication on your FTP class schedule.  After you successfully transition from the program, you will need to have your official score reports sent to University Admissions to be formally evaluated. 

Class schedules are made by program staff for each student. Your class schedule will be based on your standardized test scores, placement test results, and any previous college credit including AP or IB exam credit, and information from your online FTP-specific Academic Interest form that you will submit after activating your TU Net account. 

You will be enrolled in prerequisite courses (if required by placement testing) and/or  general education courses. The course offerings are agreed on by TU and the CCBC. They will either meet pre-requisite requirements for college level courses and/or University Core requirements for graduation.

All classes average between 20-35 students. Most classes are less than 30, which allows for more personal interaction with your instructor.

TU does not have the space to offer more classes during prime hours. This program exists because there is classroom availability after 5 p.m., Monday-Thursday and after 2 p.m. on Fridays.

Developmental courses, or review courses, are designed to review material that is necessary to be successful in college level courses. You do not earn credit for these courses because the material covered is not college level. Developmental coursework is not transferrable but will meet prerequisites for higher level math courses at Towson University.

If you choose to live on campus, you will pay for housing, the meal plan you select, a flat student services fee, and the cost of tuition. Tuition is billed per credit based on in-county, out-of-county, or out-of-state rates in accordance with CCBC’s tuition rates. If you choose to commute, you will pay a flat student services fee and CCBC tuition. 

All of your charges for the FTP (excluding incidentals) will be paid to CCBC. You will receive an email to your TU address regarding your FTP bill in mid-July. Further updates will be available online via your myCCBC SIMON account. Your bill is due by August 1. 

The student services fee is a flat fee that enables you to have access to all Towson University facilities and resources, to receive student support on TU’s campus, and to participate in campus activities, clubs and events.

Yes, CCBC offers a monthly payment plan. You can set up a payment plan after you are notified by CCBC that your bill is ready in mid-July.

By law, you can only receive financial aid from one school. For this program, you are enrolled in classes with CCBC, so your financial aid will be processed by and subject to CCBC’s policies and procedures.

Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, and loans. In order to receive financial aid, you will have to complete the Free Application for Student Federal Aid (FASFA) and add the CCBC school code, 002063. Once you complete your FASFA, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be generated and  sent to CCBC. Your financial aid award will be determined by your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is calculated based on the information you put on your FASFA and will determine what type of aid you will be eligible for. You and your parents may want to strongly consider Direct Student and Parent PLUS loans to help cover your cost of attendance for this program. You are responsible for any portion not covered by financial aid by the due date or you will be canceled for non-payment. Read more about FTP financial aid, billing and costs, and FTP financial aid forms. 

You will need to change your institution via the MD caps. Even though you added the CCBC school code to your FASFA, it does not alert the state agency.  Note: Your state aid will likely be reduced because the cost of attendance for a community college is less than a university.

As a freshman, you can borrow a total of $5,500 for the academic year, which is usually split  between two terms for a total of $2,750 per term. See FTP student loan forms.

Your parents will need to complete the Direct Parent PLUS loan request form. This loan is credit based, so your parent(s) will be subject to a credit check. They can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid. See FTP financial aid forms. 

Your parents will need to complete the Direct Parent PLUS loan request form. This loan is credit  based, so your parent(s) will be subject to a credit check. They can borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid. See FTP financial aid forms. 

If your parent is turned down for the PLUS loan, you are eligible to borrow an additional $4,000 in unsubsidized loans for the academic year, which is usually split between two terms for a total of $2,000 per term. Complete the Additional Student Loan to PLUS Loan Denial Request Form. See FTP financial aid forms. 

To transition after the first term, you need the following:

• be enrolled in at least 9 college-level credits
• earn a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better in all college-level classes, and
• have no final grade less than “C” (so,  no “D” or “F” grades) in all classes, including developmental courses.

If you meet all of the criteria, you will be guaranteed a seamless transition for the following spring term Your college-level credits will transfer to the university and you do not need to reapply for admission.

If you do not meet the transition criteria during the first term, you have the following spring term to earn a total of at least 15 transferable college credits; earn at least a cumulative 2.5 GPA (fall and spring combined), and receive a grade of C or higher for any developmental courses you are enrolled in. If you meet all of the criteria, you will be guaranteed a seamless transition the following fall.

• The ability to continue with the program is based on academic need only. You cannot opt to return to the FTP if you meet the academic requirements to transition after the first term. 
• You must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 after the first term to continue with the program for a second consecutive term. If you earn a GPA below 2.0, you will be academically dismissed from the program. You can transfer any passing credits to another institution, or continue at CCBC, but would need to reapply for transfer admission to TU if you decide to attend in the future. 

You have the opportunity to be a part of the campus community during the fall semester, which will make your transition into TU much easier. You will build great relationships with your peers and will be able to have many of the same experiences as TU freshman do their first term. You will have a TU OneCard (campus ID) and have access to all university facilities just like any other freshman student. You will be able to attend events and activities and while you will have some limitations  because of your schedule, you will have your entire weekend free to attend campus events and participate in campus activities. You will be able to show your school spirit alongside other Tiger fans! You also do not have to reapply and can transition after one term

No, it is up to you to self-identify as an FTP student. While all of your classes are not held at peak time, you are still taking courses on TU’s campus like other freshman.

There are about 150-200 students enrolled in the program each fall. Over 2,000 students have successfully completed the program since it was launched in 2008.

Yes, FTP students attend orientation in the summer along with other incoming TU freshmen. Read more about FTP orientation.

Yes, all FTP students are assigned an FTP Adviser who has received program-specific training. Your first required meeting with your assigned adviser will be during the Welcome to TU event in late August. You will be required to meet with your adviser monthly throughout the semester to help you throughout your transition.

Yes, as long as the meeting times do not interfere with your classes, you are encouraged to get involved. The only limitations are intercollegiate and club sports, ROTC, and Greek Life.

Yes, as long as the position is not a work-study position that is funded by federal student aid. Since FTP students are not in classes during the day, it is often easier for them to locate on-campus employment. This is also a great opportunity for FTP students to build their campus network and work experience.

Yes, all TU student support services are available to FTP students including Accessibility and Disability Services, Career Services, Health and Counseling services, Academic Tutoring and Coaching, and more.