How to Apply for Admission to Walla Walla Community College

Updated

Apply through the How to Apply page under the Admissions section of wwcc.edu. Before you start, decide whether you are applying as a general student or an international student, since WWCC lists a dedicated International Students entry point. You do not need to have your program, funding, or prior-credit questions fully resolved first — the site routes those through separate pages (Residency, Placement Testing, Credit by Exam, and Academic Credit for Prior Learning) that you can work through alongside the application.

Before you apply

WWCC's Admissions section frames the process around a few things you should be ready to check or decide:

  • Which student type you are. Current students, community members, employees, and international students each have their own "For You" entry point. International applicants should use the International Students page rather than the general admissions flow.
  • Residency status. Residency affects how you are classified for tuition purposes and has its own page under Admissions. If you are unsure how you qualify, review that page before or during application.
  • Whether you need placement testing. WWCC lists Placement Testing as an admissions-related item. Check it if you have no prior college coursework or test scores to document your level.
  • Whether you can earn credit for what you already know. Two separate routes exist: Credit by Exam and Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL). If you have work experience, military training, or prior learning, ACPL is the page to read.
  • How you will pay. Tuition and Fees, the Net Price Calculator, Payment Plans, Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Veterans Services all sit under Paying for College. The Net Price Calculator is the fastest way to get a cost estimate before committing.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Go to the Admissions section on wwcc.edu and open How to Apply. This is the single entry point for the application itself.
  2. Read the admissions page fully before submitting. It links out to Residency, Placement Testing, Credit by Exam, and ACPL — the items that determine what you'll need to submit or complete.
  3. If you are an international student, switch to the International Students page under "For You" and follow that process instead.
  4. Set up your accounts. WWCC lists Accounts and Passwords under Student Resources. You will need login access for MyWWCC, Canvas, Email, and ctcLink — ctcLink is the system that handles much of the enrollment and records side.
  5. Confirm your residency classification so your tuition rate is correct from the start.
  6. Complete placement testing if required, or submit existing scores/coursework if you have them.
  7. Submit prior-learning requests (Credit by Exam or ACPL) if you want them evaluated. Doing this early avoids retaking courses you can already get credit for.
  8. Apply for financial aid and scholarships through Paying for College. If you are a veteran, go through Veterans Services. If you are in a workforce program, check Workforce Education Services.
  9. Verify your status by logging into ctcLink and MyWWCC, and check the Academic Calendar for deadlines that apply to your entry term.

Expected result: you end up with an active student record, a residency classification, any placement or prior-credit determinations, and a funding path — which is what you need before registering for classes through Class Search.

Common sticking points

  • Skipping residency. It's easy to treat residency as a formality, but it drives your tuition rate. Review it before you assume a number.
  • Ignoring ACPL and Credit by Exam. These are separate pages, not part of the application form. If you have relevant experience, not checking them means paying for and repeating coursework.
  • Using the general admissions flow as an international student. International applicants have their own page and should start there.
  • Not setting up ctcLink early. Several later steps (records, registration, disbursements) run through ctcLink, so account setup is worth doing at the front.
  • Leaving funding to the end. Financial aid, scholarships, payment plans, and the Net Price Calculator are all available before you apply — use them to decide, not just to pay.

Where to go next

Once admitted, the pages that matter most are Class Search (to find courses), Advising (to map a pathway), Educational Pathways and Find a Program (to choose a direction), and Transfer if you plan to continue to a four-year school. Current students can also use Tutoring, the Library, Counseling, Disability Services, and Career Services as needed.