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Austin, TX 78724
(512) 414-LASA (5272)
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Last Updated: October 1, 2009
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EARLY COLLEGE START/ACC

Dear Student,

As a junior or senior in high school, you may be eligible to enroll in college credit courses that may also fulfill high school graduation requirements through Austin Community College’s Early College Start (ECS) Program. Begin as early as the 2008 Fall semester!


What is Early College Start?

ACC’s ECS Program provides ways that students can earn college credit while still in high school.

  • “Dual credit” - students complete college credit courses with acceptable grades, and with approval of their high school, use college credit courses to satisfy high school graduation requirements.
  • Students may also “co-enroll” and receive college credit only. Students may take any ACC course for which they meet skills and college course prerequisites.
  • “Credit-in-escrow” through tech prep programs allows students to convert many high school career and technical courses to college credit upon entry into ACC.

How does dual credit work?

The student

  • meets all admission criteria for Austin Community College, including being exempt from, or taking and passing THEA. (ACC may also consider SAT, ACT, TAKS, ASSET or COMPASS for determining college readiness in reading, writing, and math.)
  • follows the process for enrolling in Early College Start classes. This process includes: meeting with the high school counselor; getting parental approval; completing the ECS Form and an ACC web application; completing the ACC 101 Pre-Advising program (www.austincc.edu/acc101), and meeting with an ACC academic advisor.
  • purchases required textbooks and materials.
  • attends class on the high school campus, at any ACC location, or by distance learning.
  • orders a transcript to be sent to the high school registrar upon course completion.

After completing an ACC class, the student has college credit that transfers readily to other Texas public institutions, and also to many other out-of-state and private colleges. (Students should always check transferability with the receiving institution.)


Who is eligible?

  • Must be a junior or senior—students may begin taking classes the summer after the sophomore year.
  • May take a maximum of 2 courses per semester. The entire summer is considered one semester, so students may take 2 courses in each summer, fall, and spring semester until high school graduation.

What does it cost?

  • It’s FREE or very low cost to earn college credit.
    • Students who reside in ACC’s taxing district do not pay tuition and fees for college credit courses up to the two-course limit. These college courses are FREE! Students who are able to take two courses every semester until graduation can get about a year’s worth of college credit FREE or for a very low cost.
    • Students who reside outside the ACC taxing district pay $40 per course, unless the course is held on a high school campus, or the student documents financial need according to college policy.
  • Developmental courses, courses taken for audit status, non-credit (continuing education, and over-the-two-course limit courses, incur applicable tuition and fees, regardless of in-district or out-of-district status.
  • Testing is FREE for ECS students. Testing fees are waived one time for students who take ACC’s state-approved THEA-alternative, the COMPASS or ASSET test. (THEA is the Texas Higher Education Assessment test.)
  • Students pay for required textbooks and materials; if a student parks on an ACC campus, they pay for a $10 student parking permit, a one-time fee per academic year. The fee for sending an official transcript from ACC to the student’s high school to report grades is $5 per transcript. The student obtains an ACC transcript from an Admissions and Records office.

Where do students take classes?

  • At any ACC campus or center, or online via Distance Learning
  • At local high school campuses (check to see what is offered at your school)

How do students enroll for dual credit classes?

  1. Submit an ACC Admissions Application online at www.austincc.edu/apply and print and complete the Residency Information form.
  2. Obtain a high school transcript from the high school registrar.
  3. Take the ASSET or COMPASS test offered by ACC, if not exempt via TAKS, SAT, ACT, or THEA scores. Contact the ECS Office at (512) 223-7355 to inquire about test exemption
  4. Complete Pre-Advising at www.austincc.edu/acc101 . Print the complete checklist upon completion.
  5. Pick up an ECS form at any ACC campus Admissions Office.
  6. Meet with high school counselor to determine any dual credit possibilities and obtain required high school and parental signatures.
    Though many high school personnel are off contract at some time during the summer, the ECS Office maintains a list of available personnel who can counsel the student and sign the ECS form. Call your high school office or the ECS office for assistance.
  7. Meet with an ACC academic advisor on an ACC campus. Students register themselves for classes using ACC’s telephone or web registration.
  8. Follow ACC registration and payment procedures. Enrollment in classes is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, please call the ECS Office (512) 223-7355