College Credit Options
As a high school student, you have various options to earn college credit. Programs where you are eligible to earn both high school and college credit are called dual credit. Several of these dual credit programs provide the opportunity to take courses online: Running Start, Advanced Placement (AP) and various College and University extension/enrichment programs. Information on online college credit options is provided below. For information on other dual credit programs, visit the OSPI Secondary Education website.
Is college online learning for you?
Take this quiz to get a better feel of what online learning is like and whether it is a good option for you. The quiz is offered by Washington Online, a collaborative partnership with Washington Community and Technical Colleges.
Running Start
A program that allows students to attend college classes and earn both high school and college credit at the same time. Students may take online courses at the college they are enrolled in.
Frequently Asked Questions (pdf)
Eligibility: Qualified high school juniors and seniors.
Cost: Tuition waived. Student pays lab fees, textbooks and transportation.
Credit: Student earns both high school and college credit upon successful completion of course.
Next Steps: Review the Running Start instructions from the college where you intend to take the courses. Meet with your high school counselor to ensure the credits apply to your high school graduation requirements.
- Washington Community & Technical Colleges. Links to the State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC) web page and provides information on each college in the system and contact information for the Running Start Coordinator at each college.
- Central Washington University. Links to the Running Start web page at CWU.
- Eastern Washington University. Links to the Running Start web page at EWU.
Advanced Placement (AP)
AP courses prepare students to take advanced placement tests, allowing advanced placement and/or credit at the college or university level. Certain AP courses can be taken online.
Eligibility: High School Students
Cost: No cost tuition options exist through the DLD program and may also be a possibility through your local high school. Fees and books may need to be purchased by the student. If registering directly with a provider, course tuition and other fees are paid by the student and will vary by provider. AP exam fees are paid by the student.
Credit: Each AP course has a corresponding assessment through which students may earn college credit. How public colleges and universities count the credit (pdf).
Next Steps: More information about AP courses and how they may be appropriate for your education plan can be obtained from your high school counseling office. Sources for online AP courses are through the OSPI DLD program catalog administered by your high school or directly from an OSPI approved online provider.
Extension and Enrichment
High school students are able to take online college credit courses by registering directly with certain colleges and universities.
Eligibility: High School
Cost: Tuition is paid by the student on a per credit basis and varies by college or university.
Credit: Meet with your high school guidance counselor to confirm that the college or university credits will be accepted to meet high school graduation requirements.
Next Steps: Review information from the colleges offering courses. Meet with your high school counselor to plan how the courses fit your education plan.
- Bellevue College. Summer Enrichment. Are you eligible?
- Central Washington University. High School Enrichment Program Scroll to the bottom of the CWU admissions page for information about the high school enrichment program.
- University of Washington. Professional & Continuing Education. Policies for high school students.
- Western Washington University. Independent Learning. Policies and procedure information. In addition to the registration information, high school students must submit a referral letter from their high school counselor as well as a parent signature.