Steps to Enroll

Overview

Whether it is your first time in college or you are a transfer or returning student, follow our enrollment steps and before you know it, you’ll be a COTC student.

Apply for Admission

1. Complete a free COTC application at least 1 week prior to the start of a semester or term.

Create an Application Account

If you have never applied to COTC, you must create an account before you can complete an application. Click on “Not registered yet? Create an account!”

If you have previously applied and/or attended COTC, you may not need to create an account. You can simply sign in with your email and password. If you don’t know your password, click on “Forgot your password?” to reset it.

Verify Account Creation Email

When you create an account to apply to COTC, you will be asked to verify the email you used to create the account before you can begin and complete your application. You will receive an email with a link to confirm your email address and activate your account.

Once your email is confirmed and your account is activated, select the sign-in button at the top of the page and enter your email address and password. ​

Complete the COTC Application

You can complete your application by signing in with your email and password.

The COTC application is not the same as a selective healthcare application. See instructions below for applying to a selective healthcare program.

2. Set up your COTC email and student account.

Retrieve Username and Password

You are assigned a username and provided instructions for retrieving your username and password after you apply. You are also provided a temporary password via email after you apply and will be prompted to reset your own unique password during the username and password retrieval process.

Access the myCOTC Student Portal

You will use myCOTC to access your student portal and your COTC email account. myCOTC contains a lot of very important information specific to current students, including financial aid information, email, class schedule and student support services.

IT Helpdesk

If you have trouble retrieving your username, resetting your password or accessing your myCOTC Student Portal, please reach out to our IT Helpdesk.

Phone: 740.366.9244
Email: NWK-helpdesk@mail.cotc.edu

3. Complete online orientation.

Orientation information will be sent to your personal and COTC email addresses. You will need to have your COTC account set up to access this online course.

Selective Healthcare Programs

Complete healthcare program application and supporting material.

If you are interested in a healthcare program with selective enrollment, you must complete an additional program application and steps to enroll. You can review individual program requirements on each program’s page or attend a program information meeting for more information.

You’re Almost There!

You will be assigned an enrollment navigator to work with you to complete steps four through six, which must be completed before you can register for courses.

4. Submit official transcripts from all schools you’ve attended.

Request High School Transcripts

High school transcripts can be used to allow you to place out of certain coursework or into higher-level coursework. You should contact your high school to request your official transcripts be sent to COTC.

Mail: Official transcripts can be mailed directly from the high school by their staff in a sealed envelope to:

Central Ohio Technical College
Attn: Student Records
1179 University Drive
Newark, OH 43055

In-person drop off: Official transcripts can be dropped off by the student in a sealed envelope with a signature or stamp from the high school over the seal of the envelope.

Gateway Enrollment Center
Hopewell Hall
1189 University Drive
Newark, OH 43055

Request GED and Adult Diploma Transcripts

GED and Adult Diploma transcripts can be used to allow you to place out of certain coursework or into higher-level coursework.

GED: Request your GED transcript directly from the GED Transcript Request Service.

Adult Diploma: You should reach out to the institution where you completed your Adult Diploma to determine how to obtain your transcript. Transcripts can be submitted as follows:

  • Mail: Official transcripts can be mailed directly from the institution by their staff and must be sent in a sealed envelope to:

Central Ohio Technical College
Attn: Student Records
1179 University Drive
Newark, OH 43055

  • In-person drop off: Official transcripts can be dropped off by the student in a sealed envelope with a signature or stamp from the institution over the seal of the envelope.

Gateway Enrollment Center
Hopewell Hall
1189 University Drive
Newark, OH 43055

Request College/University Transcripts From a School Other Than COTC

Transcripts from other colleges/universities may be evaluated to award transfer credit. You should request an official transcript from all colleges and universities you have attended. Transcripts may be submitted by:

Electronic delivery: Official transcripts can be sent electronically from the college/university (or their approved third-party vendor).

Mail: Official transcripts can be mailed directly from the college/university by their staff and must be sent in a sealed envelope to:

Central Ohio Technical College
ATTN: Student Records
1179 University Dr.
Newark, OH 43055

In-person drop-off: Official transcripts can be dropped off by the student in a sealed envelope with a signature or stamp from the college/university over the seal of the envelope at:

Gateway Enrollment Center
Hopewell Hall
1189 University Drive
Newark, OH 43055

5. Apply for financial aid to help you pay for college.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

We encourage all students to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for grants, scholarships and loans. Our COTC school code is: 011046.

You can review the eligibility requirements for federal student aid as well.

Scholarships

The office of Student Financial Services uses information provided on the FAFSA to determine if you qualify for many of the scholarships offered at COTC. However, some scholarships may require a FAFSA and a separate scholarship application. You can view all COTC additional scholarships in the Scholarship Directory.

Student Financial Services

The Office of Student Financial Services helps you with everything from questions about financial aid, the FAFSA, accessing military or veteran benefits and finding scholarships, to setting up a payment plan and paying your bill.

Contact the office of Student Financial Services at:

6. Sign a financial responsibility agreement.

All students who are not currently in high school are required to sign a Financial Responsibility Agreement prior to registering for classes.

This agreement reviews your responsibility to pay your tuition and fees, what happens if classes are dropped, what happens if a balance is unpaid at the end of the term, and additional information about receiving and earning financial aid.

To access and complete the agreement, log in to my myCOTC. Under COTC Connect, click on Students to expand the menu and select My Agreements. View step-by-step instructions.

Register for Classes

Browse our courses.

Browse our Course Catalog to see course offerings that are related to your Plan of Study.

You can view a brief course catalog tutorial video to learn more about how to navigate and understand the course catalog and classes offered at COTC.

Connect with an enrollment navigator.

Once you’ve completed online orientation, you will work with an enrollment navigator to ensure all transcripts have been received and that your financial responsibility agreement has been signed. You have the option to attend a registration lab or you can have your enrollment navigator plan courses for you to self-register.

You must be registered for classes before the first day of the semester or term. Please review our registration dates and deadlines, along with our academic calendar for semester and term start dates.

Be Ready for Your First Day

Before the semester starts, complete these important tasks.

Get a student ID and parking permit.

Obtain your student ID and parking permit at the Department of Public Safety in the Warner Center.

A student ID is needed to identify yourself as a COTC student when meeting and communicating with various departments on campus, including the Office of Student Financial Services; to rent or purchase books in the bookstore; and to use library resources.

Student parking, identified as the white-lined spaces, is free on all COTC campuses.

Buy textbooks and supplies.

The COTC bookstore carries all textbooks and supplies that are needed for your classes. Visit the COTC bookstore online to use the Course Materials Concierge for a customized list of course materials, or stop by the bookstore in the Warner Center.