Enroll at RVCC

Enroll at RVCC

RVCC is an open access college.

Anyone with a high school degree or equivalency is welcome and SAT and ACT exams are not required for admission. Enrolling in classes as a new student is a five step process. Along the way, students will receive emails and text messages to stay on track in completing the process. The first step is to apply online.

Let’s get started.

Before applying, students need to figure out their student type. If a student is uncertain about the category to choose, go here and answer a few questions.

  • First-Time College Student – Applying for college for the first time
  • Honors College – Applying for the Honors College
  • Early College Student – Applying to take classes at RVCC while still in high school
  • Transfer Student – Applying to attend RVCC and transfer 12 or more college credits earned from another school. Students with less than 12 college credits should apply as a First-Time College student
  • Visiting Student – A current college student applying to take classes at RVCC and transfer the credits earned to their home college 

Within three business days after applying, students will receive an acceptance email with their student ID followed by a second email with a password. Students will then be able to log into the online student portal, Lion’s Den, where they can track their progress in completing the enrollment process. If the student listed their high school email on the application, they may be unable to access emails from RVCC because of security firewalls. Our Admissions Office can help. Send an email to admissions@raritanval.edu with subject line: Email address.

FAQs

Why do students have to take a placement test?

All first-time college students at RVCC must complete a placement test to assess their readiness to succeed in college-level coursework, specifically English and/or mathematics. The placement test measures reading, language, and math literacy. Students may be exempt from the placement test if their SAT, ACT or PARCC, NJSLA or AP scores are high enough or they have taken college courses that can be used to place them in English and math. Students can also submit an unofficial high school transcript with their 11 or 12th grade math grades for consideration for exemption from placement testing.

Students identified as needing additional English and/or math skills will be placed in developmental courses to improve their skills. Click here to learn more.

What are developmental courses and who has to take them?

Students identified through placement testing as needing additional English and/or math skills will be placed in developmental courses to improve their skills. Developmental courses provide an opportunity for students to strengthen their skills in math, English, and reading. RVCC understands that students come with many strengths and skill sets. Developmental courses are designed to help build and strengthen the basic foundation skills, so students can succeed in all of their classes.

How many credits do students need to take to be considered full-time?

A student must take at least 12 credit hours to be considered full-time. Most classes meet for three hours a week, but some meet for one, two, four, or five hours. Any combination that totals 12 or more semester hours is considered full time. Most degree programs require 60 credits to graduate. Go here to learn more about degree requirements. Please note that developmental courses do not count toward meeting degree requirements.

What documents must be submitted to enroll in classes?

First-time college students are required to submit required immunization forms and a final high school transcript confirming their graduation by the third week of classes of their first semester. Students who do not submit these documents will have a Document Submission hold placed on their account, which will prevent them from registering for future semesters.

What is a registration hold and how do you get it resolved?

A hold is a red flag for students to let them know that there are documents to submit or tuition payments to make before they can register for classes. Students should go to their Lion’s Den account and click on the Hold tile to find out the reason for the hold and how to resolve it.

What types of classes do you offer for students?

Raritan Valley Community College offers different types for learning options available for students:

  • In-person campus classes, offered days, evenings and weekends
  • Web-based courses online
  • A limited number of Remote Synchronous SYNC courses featuring remote classroom instruction, where students interact with professors and classmates virtually on a specific day and time

How will you communicate with students about registering for classes?

Students should check their College email regularly for updates from RVCC. The College also will be sending out text messages to students to notify them of important deadlines and actions requiring their attention. All students have access to Lion’s Den, the student portal, where they can track the progress of their enrollment process and financial aid process, as well as access their tuition bill and class schedule.

What is Lion’s Den?

Lion’s Den is the online student portal. Within three business days after applying, students will receive an acceptance email with their student ID followed by a second email with a password. Students will then be able to log into the online student portal, Lion’s Den, where they can track their progress in completing the enrollment process, as well as view their tuition bill and class schedule.

What should students do if they have a question about the enrollment process?

Contact Admissions and they will be happy to assist. Students can email admissions@raritanval.edu (make sure to include the Student g#) or call 908-393-8100.