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Early College

Early College courses are perfect preparation for motivated high school students looking to reduce the cost of their education and prepare for college level-work.

Enrollment Process

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Early College Class Formats

Our Early College Program offers you the opportunity to earn college credits at a discounted rate. Northwestern offers on-campus Early College to students who are 15 years of age and older, and are interested in face-to-face learning at the University of Northwestern - St. Paul campus in Roseville, Minnesota.

On-campus early College students will be part of an orientation group, led by a Dual Enrollment Assistant, for their first semester. This Dual Enrollment Assistant will help students transition into the Northwestern community.

On-Campus Courses Available

On-campus, you will have access to hundreds of courses each semester and can participate in many extracurricular groups such as musical ensembles, theatre, clubs, intramural sports, and even intercollegiate sports. You can take many of our courses on-campus; however, we recommend that you work with your high school guidance counselor to determine which courses to take for high school completion. Check out our on-campus course catalog for details.

Residential Option

Students taking PSEO classes on-campus may be eligible to live in the dorms at Northwestern. While most students in the on-campus PSEO program choose to commute, high school seniors who are at least 17 years old can apply to live in the dorms alongside traditional Northwestern students. Fees associated with room and board are not covered by the PSEO program and will be charged to the student.

Questions

How does the Early College on-campus selection process work?

The on-campus Dual Enrollment program is very competitive. We are seeking well-rounded individuals who will be a great fit for the classroom and for the Northwestern community. Applicants must have a high school GPA of 3.3 or higher to apply, and must maintain a collegiate GPA of 3.0 at Northwestern to remain eligible for the on-campus program. Please see our Early College Application page for further details.

Many local private high schools partner with Northwestern to offer college-level courses on location to their students. All on-site Early College instructors are hired as adjunct faculty by Northwestern and are paid directly by Northwestern for the courses they teach. If a student is enrolled at one of our partner high schools, they are eligible to participate in our on-site Early College program.

On-Site Courses

Each high school offers different Northwestern courses. Typically, these courses will be entry-level courses in academic subjects; however, some schools offer more specialized courses. Check with your partnering institution for classes that are offered on-site.

Below is a list of private schools that partner with Northwestern to offer PSEO or Early College curriculum on-site:
  • Avail Academy (Fridley, MN)
  • Central Minnesota Christian HS (Prinsburg, MN)
  • Community Christian HS (Willmar, MN)
  • Hope Academy (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Legacy Christian Academy (Andover, MN)
  • Liberty Classical Academy (White Bear Lake, MN)
  • New Life Academy (Woodbury, MN)
  • St. Cloud Christian School (St. Cloud, MN)
  • South Heights Christian Classes (Burnsville, MN)
  • Southwest Christian HS (Chaska, MN)
  • United Christian Academy (Bloomington, MN)

Questions

Where does class take place?

Course instruction will take place in person at the high school.

Which courses may I take?

Your high school may choose any course from Northwestern's traditional catalog for which the school has a qualified instructor. Typically, these courses will be entry-level courses in academic subjects, but some schools offer more specialized courses. Check with your partner high school for a list of the classes they plan to offer.

Will the courses qualify for college credit at all institutions?

When you complete your course, college credit will be applied to your academic record at Northwestern. Northwestern is regionally accredited and these credits may be used to complete a degree at Northwestern or transferred to another educational institution. We encourage you to check the requirements of the program and school where further study is planned before selecting your Early College courses as the receiving school will always have the final say in how to transfer in UNW courses.

Northwestern is the largest provider of online dual enrollment courses among private colleges and universities in the state of Minnesota. We offer more than 60 online courses in semester-length formats, including at-your-own-pace learning and collaboratively based learning. You will be guided through your classes using a variety of textbooks, multimedia presentations, discussion forums, and other digital tools by caring and engaging Christian professors. Our online courses do not meet at a specific time, rather, all course work can be completed at the student's own pace within the given course deadlines.

Online Courses Available

Check out our online Dual Enrollment course list to see available classes.

Questions

Do I need to attend class on-campus if I am only taking online courses?

No. Online Dual Enrollment courses are offered through a convenient online format which allows you to complete your work in a home or high school setting that best fits your schedule. You do not need to login at a certain time for class. Students interested in taking classes on-campus need to apply for our on-campus Dual Enrollment program.

How will I complete online courses?

Northwestern's Early College online program requires you to have internet access to complete your courses. Out courses typically consist of online discussion boards, electronic assignment submission, and exams, as well as textbook readings. You will have a professor to answer questions just like any other class. Our courses are offered in either an Independent Study or Online Learning Group format. You must show responsibility, time management, and the ability to complete college level work for both types of course formats. Personal time management is imperative to academic success in our online courses.

Online independent study: An independent study course means that while you study, you are independent of other students, weekly due dates, and regular interaction with your professor. You may work on the course at your own pace as long as you are able to complete the course by the end of the semester.

Online learning group: An online learning group course requires you to interact with other students and your instructor. Semester start and end dates are critical for a learning group course. The group of students will start the course together, work through the course materials and assignments together, and finish together. This type of course has greater accountability because the courses have weekly due dates which are to be followed throughout the semester.

What are my computer requirements?

Participation in Northwestern's online courses requires the use of a personal computer with internet access. You can view our current computer requirements.

*Students with interest in pursuing Engineering courses will be required to have a computer with the Windows operating system.

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