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Early College Scholars

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Get a Head Start on College While You’re in High School 

The Early College Scholars program allows eligible public high school students to earn a minimum of 15 transferable college credits while fulfilling the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma. The result? A more productive senior year in high school and significant savings on college tuition costs.

Who Can Be an Early College Scholar?

To participate, you must:

  • Be working toward an Advanced Studies Diploma.
  • Keep at least a “B” average in your high school classes.
  • Earn the Governor’s Seal on your diploma by completing at least 9 college credits through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, or dual enrollment courses.
  • Earn a total of 15 transferable college credits before you graduate high school. These credits can come from:
    • Dual enrollment or dual credit courses (grade of C or better)  AP, IB, or Cambridge courses with qualifying exam scores 
    • Passing CLEP exams
    • Other approved college-level courses that award transferable credit
  • Apply to and be accepted by a college or university after high school. 

What Do Families Need to Know?

  • Students will need strong time management skills to balance high school and college-level work. 
  • The number of credits a college accepts can vary—always check with your student’s future college or university. 
  • Families play a key role in encouraging and supporting their student’s progress. 

Why Join the Program?

  • Save Money: College credits earned in high school reduce the number of courses you’ll need later. 
  • Save Time: You may graduate college early or have more room in your schedule for internships, research, or study abroad. 
    Challenge Yourself: College-level courses help you build strong study skills and confidence. 
  • Stand Out: The Governor’s Seal on your diploma shows colleges and employers that you pushed yourself academically.

How to Apply

  1. Talk to your school counselor about your eligibility.
  2. Review your academic and career plan to make sure you’re on track for an Advanced Studies Diploma.
  3. Complete the Early College Scholars Agreement (signed by the student, parent/guardian, principal, and counselor).
  4. Work with your school counselor to enroll in the right combination of AP, IB, Cambridge, and/or dual enrollment courses to meet the requirements. 

Start planning early! Most students begin preparing for Early College Scholars in 10th grade so they can build their schedule for 11th and 12th grade.

School Divisions can print the Early College Scholars certificates on-site through the Single Sign-On for Web Systems (SSWS). The certificate generator uses data from the Spring Student Record Collection (SRC) to prepare the certificates. For more information, see Early College Scholars Certificate Process and Procedures.

Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies Programs (UCGS) supports the Early College Scholars program by providing a set of academic courses that fully transfer as core requirements and degree credits at Virginia colleges and universities. More information on the Commonwealth College Course Collaborative and the participating institutions is available through the Transfer Virginia Portal.