Running Start students are juniors and seniors enrolled in a public high school. That’s it!

Students can start Running Start during the summer following their sophomore year in high school. Whatcom Community College offers Special Admission for Underage Students - those who are younger than junior status in high school.

Students who are under the age of eligibility for Running Start may be admitted to the college under special circumstances. They must have permission of a parent/guardian and a recommendation from their high school or home school. They must display the academic and social maturity to be successful in a college environment.

Underage students do not have access to Running Start funding, so they are required to pay full tuition and fees. 

Students interested in Special Admission should contact the Associate Director for Running Start, Karla Coglizer, at kcoglizer@whatcom.edu.

Yes! Homeschooled and private school students are welcome to participate in Running Start.

You’ll need to enroll in your local public high school and have them complete a form with you every quarter. You don’t need to take any classes there. The local school will determine your class standing (junior, senior, etc.) to determine your eligibility.

All students must enroll with a public high school to receive Running Start funding. The school district determines the process for enrollment and grade level.

Students are eligible but not required to attend any courses or activities at the public high school.

Students are not required or expected to pursue the diploma from the school district but are still required to meet quarterly with the high school contact for funding purposes.

Yes! Students who have been enrolled in ELL or ESL classes in high school are also eligible for Running Start.

Contact the Running Start office at rstart@whatcom.edu or 360.383.3123 for information.

Yes, WCC Access and Disability Services can assist in setting up accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities, including (but not limited to) learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health struggles, or even a sports injury or other ailment. Learn more on the Access and Disability Services webpage.

Parents/guardians can be a student’s best support system. They are welcome at Information Sessions and can even sit in on advising appointments, with permission from the student.

The Federal Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) protects students’ records, so staff and faculty are limited in how much information they can share. Parents/guardians are encouraged to work directly with students to avoid any confusion about registration, grades, attendance, and other educational matters.

Students are expected to participate fully in all course activities, including labs and field trips, without any special permission from parents.

Parents/guardians may still see your grades through the high school or on your high school transcript. All information generated or received by the high school is available to your parents through laws that govern release of information to parents in the K-12 system.

The college does not report attendance. Each individual instructor has their own attendance policies and procedures which are handled between the student and the instructor.

No, students do not need the permission of the high school to enroll in the program; the student and parents make this choice.

No, course content is intended for adult students and not adapted for minors.

1 high school credit = 5 college credits | 15 credits is a typical full-time quarter

**Juniors or Seniors who maxed out their 1.4 AAFTE before summer 2024 are eligible to take up to 10 credits during summer quarter 2024. This is a one year opportunity and will not be the case in summer 2025.

As a Running Start student, you can take both classes on campus or online and choose between a full-time or part-time class schedule. Your high school counselor will help you determine how many classes to take at each location and note it on your Enrollment Verification Form.

Below are four example Running Start schedules. They are only examples! You choose when, where, which, and how many classes to take.

Image above: A part time Running Start sample schedule. This schedule is for a student that takes two classes at the high school and two classes at the college. 

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Image above: A part time Running Start sample schedule. This schedule is for a student that takes four classes at the high school and 1 class at the college. 

Image above: A full time Running Start sample schedule. This schedule is for a student that takes three classes at the college. 

Image above: A full time Running Start sample schedule. This schedule is for a student that takes three classes at the college. 

To find out which textbooks you will need follow the steps below:

1. Visit the WCC Bookstore website
2. Hover over "Textbooks" menu and click "Purchase"
3. Enter your class information
4. Click "View your Course Materials."

You can also visit the WCC Bookstore on campus for assistance. Click here for current hours and contact information.

If you cannot afford the cost of your required textbooks, apply for loaner books by using the Book Loan Application. Visit the Running Start Program Costs webpage for more information.

You do no need to take the SAT or ACT to be eligible for Running Start. However, if you plan to attend a university in the Fall term following high school graduation, you should take the SAT, the ACT, or both during their junior year of high school. For specific information on which test the student should take, please contact the desired university.  

For SAT testing information (dates, locations...etc), please click here.

For ACT testing information (dates, locations...etc), please click here.

If you plan to complete at least one term of college following high school graduation (excluding summer), you may be considered a transfer student and may NOT need to complete the SAT or ACT test. Please contact the university directly to find out their admission policy on testing, as not every university requires a test. It is safe to assume that taking the SAT or ACT while in high school is advisable to make sure you have the most options for what to do after high school graduation.

ALL classes!  When students join Running Start, they become WCC students with full access to all courses. Just like any other student, you may have to meet certain prerequisites before you can take a class (like completing PSYC&100 before you can take PSYC&200). Classes that are not at college level (below 100 level) need to be paid by the student at the full tuition rate.

It depends, but probably. We certainly wish we could give a more definitive answer, but it’s the choice of each university whether to transfer credits, just like with AP or College in the High School credits. Most public universities will transfer all, or at least most, of your credits. Private universities tend to be choosier. The way to know for sure is to see if your chosen university has an “equivalency guide” or "transfer guide" on their website, showing specifically how Whatcom Community College credits transfer to that university. You’ll have more luck finding these guides for universities within the state of Washington.

While you are allowed to choose any classes you like, most students are working toward a high school diploma and/or college degree. Your high school counselor will guide you to which requirements you need to meet for high school graduation. Your college advisor helps you translate high school requirements into college classes, helps you determine your college goals, then talks you through how to achieve those goals.

High school graduation requirements can be met with college classes. You may build a plan that is full-time (completely at the college) or part-time (with classes at both the college and the high school). Your schedule can be online or in person or a combination.

Sometimes, under certain circumstances, classes taken in high school can give you college credit. These options are collectively called “dual credit”.

• Completing an AP class does not give you college credit, but the AP exam can. Exams are awarded college credit according to these state guidelines: AP scores and WCC equivalencies
• High school classes classified as “College in the High School”, after you’ve registered appropriately and paid the tuition for them, will go on a college transcript.
• Some schools offer “CTE Dual Credit” for some CTE courses completed at the high school.  If you’ve taken these courses, you may be surprised to find that you already have credit at WCC!

It will depend on you. You can decide how many classes you’d like to take at the high school – if any. Based on that choice, your high school counselor will determine how many credits you are eligible for at the college.

To access your classes and complete assignments, go to Canvas.

Running Start students can utilize all the college's resources, including:

• Academic Advising
• Personal Counseling
• Student Recreation Center (campus gym)
• Media Center and Makerspace
•  Tutoring
• Intercultural Center
• Student Life (clubs and campus events!)
• Career Center

Running Start students graduating with a degree this spring or summer are encouraged to participate in the 2024 Running Start Graduate Celebration on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m.

This event is separate from Whatcom’s Commencement Ceremony and is exclusive to Running Start graduates completing a degree, their friends, and families.

Running Start graduates may attend both the Running Start Graduate Celebration (Wednesday, May 22) and Whatcom’s Commencement Ceremony (Friday, June 14).

Please RSVP for the Running Start Graduate Celebration by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1.