Offer a Full Degree. Under Your Brand.
Enable your students to graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree. We manage the university partnerships, academic operations, and student support, you deliver the outcome.
The Program
What Is the Early College Program?
The Early College Program enables your organization to offer a structured four-year pathway where students complete an entire associate degree, up to 60 college credits , alongside their high school diploma. We provide the university partnerships, academic sequencing, and wraparound support. Your organization delivers the program under its own brand.
Full Associate Degree
Not a handful of courses, a complete 60-credit associate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, delivered through your school and earned by graduation.
Four-Year Structured Pathway
A carefully sequenced plan from Grade 9 through Grade 12. We build the academic roadmap; your team guides students through it with our operational support at every step.
Recognized & Transferable
Every credit comes from a recognized U.S. institution. The associate degree transfers to bachelor's programs at universities across the U.S. and internationally, giving your graduates a competitive edge.
Understanding the Difference
Early College vs. Dual Enrollment
Both programs allow your organization to offer college-level coursework. The difference is scope: Dual Enrollment provides individual courses, while the Early College Program delivers a structured pathway to a complete degree, all managed by our team.
Earn individual college credits alongside high school
Complete an entire associate degree by high school graduation
Typically Grades 10–12
Grade 9 (structured from the start)
Varies, 3 to 30+ credits
60 credits (full associate degree)
Flexible, students choose individual courses
Sequenced four-year academic plan
College credits + high school diploma
Associate degree + high school diploma
Course-level guidance
Dedicated academic advisor for the full pathway
| Aspect | Dual Enrollment | Early College Program |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Earn individual college credits alongside high school | Complete an entire associate degree by high school graduation |
| Starting Point | Typically Grades 10–12 | Grade 9 (structured from the start) |
| Credit Target | Varies, 3 to 30+ credits | 60 credits (full associate degree) |
| Structure | Flexible, students choose individual courses | Sequenced four-year academic plan |
| Outcome | College credits + high school diploma | Associate degree + high school diploma |
| Advising | Course-level guidance | Dedicated academic advisor for the full pathway |
The Four-Year Plan
What Your Students Experience
Each year is carefully structured so students build on what they've learned. By the end of four years, they've completed 60 credits, the equivalent of two full years of college. We manage the academic sequencing; your team stays connected to the students throughout.
Grade 9: Foundation
~15 creditsGeneral education core, English Composition, College Mathematics, Introduction to Psychology, and electives aligned with student interests.
Grade 10: Exploration
~15 creditsBroader general education, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and early exposure to concentration areas.
Grade 11: Concentration
~15 creditsDeeper study in chosen field, Business, STEM, Health Sciences, or Liberal Arts. Students begin building a focused academic identity.
Grade 12: Completion
~15 creditsCapstone courses, remaining degree requirements, and preparation for transfer to a four-year institution.
Why It Matters
Six Reasons to Offer Early College
Graduates With a Degree
Your students walk across the stage with both a high school diploma and an associate degree, a credential that sets your school apart.
Two Years of Savings for Families
Families save two years of university tuition, room, and board. A tangible value proposition that drives enrollment to your organization.
Clear Direction, Early
By Grade 11, students have explored multiple fields and chosen a concentration. Your school delivers clarity that most institutions cannot.
Competitive Differentiation
An associate degree pathway signals academic ambition and operational sophistication. It positions your organization as a leader in college readiness.
Seamless Transfer
Credits from the associate degree transfer to bachelor's programs at partner universities. Your graduates arrive at university as juniors, not freshmen.
We Manage the Support
Academic advising, tutoring, counseling, and career guidance are integrated into every year. We provide the infrastructure; your team stays connected to the relationship.
What We Manage For You
Support Services at Every Stage
Tutoring, counseling, and career advice aren't extras, they're integral components that we manage as part of the Early College delivery. Your organization gets the outcomes; we handle the operations.
Dedicated Academic Advisor
We assign a single point of contact who guides each student through all four years, course selection, progress tracking, and transfer planning. Your team stays informed without carrying the operational load.
Tutoring & Academic Support
Subject-specific tutoring is available throughout the program. We ensure no student falls behind, protecting your organization's completion rates and reputation.
Counseling & Wellness
Social-emotional support, stress management, and college readiness counseling are built into the program by design, not available on request, but integrated into the student experience your organization delivers.
Career Guidance
From Grade 10 onward, students receive career exploration support that connects their academic choices to real-world outcomes, strengthening the value of the pathway your organization offers.
The Result for Your Organization?
Clear expectations for families. Increased student motivation. Simplified planning for your team. Students know exactly where they are and where they're going, and your organization gets the credit for making it possible.
Industry Certificates & CPL
Help Your Learners Turn Credentials Into College Credit
Industry certificates, credentials recognized by businesses in specific industries , can be converted into college credit through Credit-for-Prior-Learning (CPL). For your organization, this means the workforce credentials and professional certifications your learners already hold can accelerate their degree completion.
Through our network of Teaching Institutions, your students and working professionals can apply their industry credentials toward associate or bachelor's degree requirements , reducing time-to-degree and eliminating redundant coursework. You deliver the pathway; we manage the credit evaluation.
Learner Earns an Industry Certificate
Through your organization's programs or external assessments, learners complete an industry-recognized credential.
We Facilitate CPL Review
Our academic partners evaluate the certificate against their course equivalency standards, we manage the process.
College Credit Awarded
Approved credentials convert to college credit, applied directly to the learner's degree program. Your organization enabled the shortcut.
Implementation Criteria
Student Eligibility & Readiness
The Early College Program is designed for motivated students ready to commit to a four-year academic pathway. Readiness is assessed collaboratively, with input from your school's teachers, counselors, parents, and the students themselves. We provide the assessment framework; your team knows the students best.
Entry Criteria
- 1Entering or enrolled in Grade 9 at a participating school
- 2Demonstrated academic readiness (assessed by school and family)
- 3Parent or guardian agreement and consent
- 4Commitment to a four-year structured academic pathway
- 5Willingness to meet program expectations and milestones
Continuation Standards
- 1Maintain a grade of C or better in each college course
- 2Complete all courses in the sequenced plan each semester
- 3Maintain good academic standing at the high school
- 4Attend regular check-ins with academic advisor
- 5Participate in milestone reviews at the end of each year
From Our Thought Leadership
The Research Behind This Program
Each article below builds the case for this approach with evidence from OECD, World Economic Forum, and 25 years of field experience.
The System Is Not Broken. It Is Working Exactly as Designed.
Why institutional immunity blocks reform from within, and how Early College bypasses it entirely.
See It in Action
Real Organizations. Real Outcomes.
These case studies show how organizations used this program to solve real challenges and deliver measurable results for their learners.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Offer Early College?
Whether you're a school exploring the program, an education authority evaluating options, or an employer considering degree pathways for your workforce, we're here to walk you through every detail.
Explore a Partnership