Enrolling in College Courses
One of the simplest ways to get a head start is applying for special student status at a UW System campus. As a special student, you’re approved to take college courses and earn college credits because you are not seeking a degree.
Take some time to review the admissions criteria at the UW System campus you’d like to attend. Admission offices will consider the following to see if you’re ready to succeed in college classes:
- Rank in class
- Grade point average
- ACT or SAT scores
- Rigor of your high school courses
- Letters of recommendation
Contact the campus that interests you for details on admissions and enrollment.
Learn more about the various college credit in high school programs below.
WISCONSIN’S Early College Credit PROGRAM
Beginning Fall 2018, high school students at public and private high schools in Wisconsin can earn college credit through the Early College Credit Program (ECCP). A student selected for the program may be permitted to enroll in a UW System institution, or an alternative private, non-profit institution of higher education (IHE) to take one or more courses for which the student may earn high school credit, post-secondary credit, or both. Under ECCP, the costs of the courses are shared among the IHE, the school district or private school, the state, and in some cases the student’s family.
HOW TO APPLY for the Early College Credit Program:
- Talk with your high school counselor to see if it’s a good fit for you. They will consider how the class aligns with academic plans and whether you meet the pre-requisite for taking a college level class. Ask when, and to whom, the materials must be submitted to at your high school.
- Request information from UW System campuses where you’d like to take classes
- Obtain an ECCP participation form from your high school counselor or download it from the link below.
- Submit your completed form to your school officials by the designated due date.
- Follow the application or registration requirements at the campus or program you’d like to take classes with.
- Make sure to submit any required documentation (i.e.high school transcripts along with any prerequisite documentation (AP scores))
- Enroll in your class
UW System ECCP Participation Form
ADMISSIONS OFFICES MAY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
- Rank in class
- Grade point average
- ACT or SAT scores
- Rigor of your high school courses
- Letters of recommendation
Note: If you do not meet deadlines for submission of the required ECCP form (see above), you may still be able to take college courses through a UW System campus but the full costs of the credit will be carried by the student/family. You will still use the UW System ECCP Participation form as approval from a high school counselor/staff advisor is required whether or not you are participating in ECCP. Contact UW admission offices directly for further deadlines and details about taking courses as a non-ECCP student.
College credit in high school- campus specific programs
College Credit in High School (CCIHS)
Cooperative Academic Partnership Program (CAPP)
Independent Learning
Start classes anytime, finish them within a year, and study on your own, at a pace that suits your needs. Choose from nearly 100 courses in math, science, humanities, foreign language, and more, including online and print-based options.
Project Lead the Way
Are you curious about engineering, computer science, or biomedical science careers? Check out Project Lead the Way (PLTW). Some Wisconsin high schools offer PLTW coursework. UW System campuses evaluate the coursework ensuring it helps students meet admission requirements.
Your high school must contact the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to request “equivalent to science” (ES) high school credit.
View a current list of courses DPI has approved as ES, and the schools that offer them.