Running Start Program

Earn college credit as a high school junior or senior.

Our program offers something for everyone.

Running Start gives students an opportunity to earn an associate degree while working towards high school graduation. Or those students that just want to test the waters.

For families, Clark College offers their students an inclusive place to earn tuition-free college credit as well as smaller class sizes, faculty access, and access to STEM facilities. They may even have other high school students to hang out with.

And it’s open to anyone.

There are no GPA requirements, you don’t need to take a full load of classes, and it’s open to anyone who wants to apply. You’ll reduce the number of credits you’ll need to take (and pay for) after high school graduation.

“

Doing Running Start, it opened doors that I didn’t know existed, it has showed me that college is for me.

— Mary Guevara, Vancouver iTech HS Class of 2021

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Get a Running Start on your future and reach out to the Welcome Center for more information today.

Learn More

Make tomorrow easier.

Build a foundation for your future.

We understand students have a lot going on in their life. Family commitments, job commitments, sports, clubs, and other afterschool activities. And it can be difficult to think about what’s happening next week, never mind years down the road.

Running Start gives students the opportunity to take a few credits, a few classes, a few semesters, or two years of college now so they don’t have to worry about them later. And we offer smaller class sizes, faculty access, and access to STEM facilities.

Students aren’t taking college classes on top of a full load of high school classes. These credits count towards high school graduation as well as college transcripts.

Students can be themselves.

Clark offers an accepting, inclusive community.

Students will be in classes with college students, learning from college instructors, in a college environment. Running Start students often find themselves excelling in a more mature setting where classwork is more important than cliques.

But there’s always time for new friendships. The Clark College student body and faculty are well-represented by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented communities. Students can be who they really are while working towards who they want to become.