Earning College Credit in High School

University of Wisconsin System institutions offer a number of opportunities for academically talented high school students to enroll in university courses. College credits earned while in high school provide students an opportunity to pursue more rigorous course work than may be available in the high school.

Youth Options Program

The Youth Options Program (formerly known as Post Secondary Enrollment Options) is a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) program in which 11th or 12th grade students in Wisconsin can attend institutions of higher education to take nonreligious courses. All University of Wisconsin System institutions participate in this program.

Youth Options requires that interested students are seeking high school credit for postsecondary course work. A University of Wisconsin System institution will award university credit for any course taken at the university level. If attendance is approved by the school board, the cost of tuition, fees and books is paid by the school district.

A student interested in Youth Options completes a Wisconsin DPI Youth Options Plan and Report. This form is available in high school offices and must be completed by March 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester (there is no summer enrollment in this program).

Students must also apply to the institution of higher education and meet all admission requirements and application deadlines. Admission to a University of Wisconsin System institution is offered if student meets all requirements for Youth Options enrollment and space is available. The criteria to be accepted are typically high rank in class, high ACT (or SAT I) score, a rigorous curriculum in high school and/or letters recommendation.

Students hoping to enroll in Youth Options should talk with their high school counselor for more information. Students should also request information from the University of Wisconsin System campus where enrollment is desired.

Contact Information is available for each University of Wisconsin System institution.

Special Student Enrollment for High School Students

The University of Wisconsin System welcomes gifted and talented high school students into our university communities. High school students may apply to a University of Wisconsin System campus for the purpose of taking college credit course work prior to graduation from high school.

A high school student interested in taking college level courses must meet the established admission criteria of the University of Wisconsin System institution. High school students, once admitted are commonly referred to as "high school specials." This means that the student has been approved by the university to take courses for university credit as a non-degree-seeking student.

Interested students must apply for admission status as a high school special by completing the appropriate forms and submitting required transcripts, test scores and/or letters of recommendation.

Contact Information for each University of Wisconsin System institution.

More Options

High school students who complete examinations offered by the College Board Advanced Placement Program and receive a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the examination(s) will be awarded college credit by the University of Wisconsin System institution in which they enroll as degree candidates. Check University of Wisconsin System evaluations of Advanced Placement examinations for specific information.

Students enrolled in schools with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program may be awarded college credit by the University of Wisconsin institution in which they enroll as degree candidates.

The University of Wisconsin-Extension offers university credit course work through Independent Learning. Course work offered through Independent Learning is completed by correspondence. Advisers in Independent Learning will be happy to answer any questions. Call (877) 895-3276 for assistance.

Some University of Wisconsin System institutions have made arrangements for offering college credit with certain high schools. An example of this is the Cooperative Academic Placement Program (CAPP) at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Check with your high school counselor to see if there is any opportunity in your high school for earning college credit through a University of Wisconsin System institution.