Running Start is a statewide partnership between community and technical colleges and local high schools. The program allows high school juniors and seniors to attend the college tuition-free and have the credits count for both high school and college credit. College credits are paid for by the high school, saving families money as students begin their college careers. 

• Tuition free. Students pay for other related costs (books, class-based fees and transportation).
• Located at the college.

Visit our Running Start webpages for more information on how to enroll. 

CTE Dual Credit^* allows high school students to earn college credit in their high school career and technical education (CTE) classes without leaving their high school campus. CTE Dual Credit used to be called Tech Prep. CTE classes can include health care, technology, and mechanical classes.

• Tuition free.
• Located at the high school.
• Credits apply only to professional-technical degrees and certificates

Find out more about how you can earn dual college credit in your high school classes. 

*CTE Dual Credit was formally known as Tech Prep

College in the High School programs provide college-level academic courses to 10th, 11th and 12th grade students. Courses are taught at the high school, by high school teachers, with college curriculum, college textbooks, and oversight by college faculty and staff.  

• Students pay fees, but typically far less than regular college tuition.
• Students may also pay for textbooks.
• Located at the high school.

Find out more about how you can earn college credit in your high school classes. 

All Washington state community and technical colleges award credit for students who achieve certain scores on the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) exams.

• Students pay exam fees.
• Located at the high school.

Find out more about Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) at Clark College, and visit your advisor for more information about transfer in credits, records evaluation, credit review, transcript review, transferring in coursework.