Admissions Information

How to Apply

Step 1:  First time applicants can apply online, download and mail in an application or request a form be mailed. Click here for admissions applications.

Step 2: If you did not apply online you will need to email or fax your application form, narrative essay, union verification, and $35 application fee to the Admissions Office before your application process may be completed. Failure to include all required documentation will delay your acceptance. Fax to 301-628-0160 or email admissions@nlc.edu.

Step 3: Request official sealed transcripts of credits from: prior colleges or universities, military training, ACE assessed apprenticeships, training, or licenses to be sent directly to the National Labor College 10000 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20903 Attn: Admissions. Applicants are advised to request unofficial copies for their personal records. Review the transfer credit guidelines in our course catalog. Transfer credits must be from an accredited college or university and have a grade of "C" or higher to be accepted. Developmental coursework cannot be transferred toward a degree. Students re-admitting to the college will enter under the rules of the current catalog. Degree requirements may have changed so it is important to speak with an advisor prior to registering for classes.

Step 4: Upon application to NLC you will be sent a user name and password to log into NLC™s Online Campus , where you can view the status of your application  transcript, register for classes and manage your account.   All applicants are automatically enrolled in the Online Orientation and Academic Advising course which will provide you with answers to your questions about getting started at NLC.   There is no additional charge for the course, however, all new and re-admitting students will be required to complete an Orientation prior to registering for class(es). 

Step 5: Register for class(es). Once the mandatory Orientation and Survey has been completed, you will be ready to register.  If you have questions about  which courses to register for, you should speak with an advisor.

Acceptance to the college is contingent upon the receipt of all required documentation. An official letter of acceptance will be sent to all applicants who complete the application process. The National Labor College does not discriminate with regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex age, status as a qualified person with a disability or handicap, marital status or, sexual orientation.

The National Labor College accepts applicants throughout the year, however an application must be received one month prior to each term's start date to start in that term. This will allow time to process the application and the necessary documentation required. Students may take classes in spring, summer, or fall terms.

The National Labor College is an upper-level degree completion program. Students with less than the requisite number of credits for admission are encouraged to begin, and continue, coursework with the NLC and/or other colleges until they meet the requisite number of credits required for matriculation to our degree programs. Students with less than the requisite number of credits are classified as non-matriculating and are therefore not eligible for federal financial aid.

Degree Requirements

Prospective students for any degree program must have completed at least 56 semester hours of coursework before they can be admitted into our academic programs. Satisfactory completion of 120 semester credits is required including 3 credit hours in each of the following areas; English, Math, Science, Social Science and Humanities.

The college may accept up to 90 transfer credits towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in any Labor Studies major and 84 credits towards a degree in Business Administration, Construction Management and Emergency Readiness and Response Management.  All transcripts are evaluated by the registrar prior to being placed on an NLC transcript.   

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Prior Learning Assessment credits enable students to earn college credits for skills learned and knowledge acquired outside of the traditional college classroom setting. Types of credits may include: on-the-job training, union work, volunteer work in the community, starting a business, or through some craft or hobby mastered over the years. The key to receiving credits lies in the student's ability to demonstrate his learning through written essays, documentation and other sources of verification through the portfolio process. Students who wish to receive experiential credits must complete the coursework in the Education Planning class.

Interested in finding out if you are eligible to earn up to one year of college-level credit in the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Program? Click here to learn more.