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Early College Programs

Admission and Aid

Earn college credits

Free opportunities for high school juniors and seniors!

Apply to Early College

To apply for Fall 2023

  • Students can submit the Early College Application starting on May 1

Speak with your guardian and school counselor, complete the Early College application, then send completed application to earlycollege@berkshirecc.edu.

  • About Early College
    • Students can take up to 15 credits (high school schedules permitting). Tuition and fees will be waived.
    • To enroll, download Early College registration form (PDF).
    • Juniors and seniors with a high school GPA of 2.7 or higher can place into college-level classes, or they may take the Accuplacer placement exam.
    • Students interested in taking Pre-Calculus, Calculus or higher are required to take the Math Accuplacer.
    • Fifteen credits is a full course load. The College does not encourage all students to take 15 credits. Students must take their high school schedule, classes, sports and extra-curricular activities into account.
    • A low GPA and Withdraws can affect a student's future financial aid eligibility. See the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for more details.
    • Students taking nine credits or more will automatically be charged for health insurance. If students have health insurance of their own, they may waive the insurance fee at Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk.
    • To check pre-requisites, please refer to the BCC College Catalog. Students who currently have an IEP or 504 plan can contact BCC's Disability Resource Center.

Download BCC's Early College Application!

Contact Us

earlycollege@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-1635

Learn More

Check out all of the courses currently available through our Self Service tool. Search by semester, department, faculty and more. View BCC's College Catalog to learn about the wide array of associate degrees and certificates we offer.

Remember: Don't wait! Registering early for college classes is extremely helpful for students to be able to get books and login support before classes start. Two weeks before classes start is ideal.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • Who can apply for Early College?

    To be eligible for Early College, a student must meet the following criteria:

    • Be a local high school student (includes home-schooled students)
    • Be a Massachusetts resident
    • Be placed at a college level by GPA (2.7 or higher) or by taking the Accuplacer
  • What are the different types of Early College enrollment?

    There are two ways you can earn college credit while in high school:

    1. Concurrent Enrollment: High school students take a high school course for college credit. The high school course must pass an approval process with Berkshire Community College. Check with your school or contact the BCC Early College Team to check availability at your school.
    2. Dual Enrollment: High school students take college courses and receive college credit. Students are responsible for cost of tuition and fees, books and transportation.
  • How do I know if I am eligible to take a course?

    Some courses have pre-requisites (requirements before taking the course), meaning you must be considered college-level reading and writing. Certain courses require a specific level of math.

    You can demonstrate college-level reading and writing one of two ways:

    Depending on the math requirement, you may be placed into a course based on high school GPA; otherwise, the Accuplacer exam is required.

  • What kind of classes may I take in Early College?

    You may take any college course that interests you, provided you meet the requirements of the course (based on your Accuplacer score or your high school GPA). You should always check with your school counselor to make sure you will receive high school credit for the course.

    The BCC Early College Team can help choose the best course for you.

  • Where do I go to take an Early College course?

    You can take a course on BCC's Main Campus or at any of our off-campus sites. Online courses are also available.

  • What are some high school concurrent courses?

    Recent concurrent courses include:

    Taconic High School

    • Health Technology Program - BIO-150 (3 credits)
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology - BIO-150 (3 credits)

    Pittsfield High School

    • Human Anatomy and Physiology - BIO-150 (3 credits)

    Lee High School

    • AP English - ENG-101 and ENG-102(6 credits)
    • AP Statistics - MAT-123 (3 credits)
    • Spanish 4 Honors - SPA-201 (4 credits)
    • AP Biology - BIO-105 (4 credits)
    • AP Physics - PHY-101 (4 credits)

    Wahconah Regional High School

    • Human Anatomy and Physiology - BIO-150 (3 credits)
    • Environmental Science - ENV-101 (4 credits)

    Monument Mountain Regional High School

    • Early Childhood Education - ECE-104 (3 credits)
    • Personal Finance - BUS-139 (3 credits)
  • What other ways can I earn credits?

    Are you in a vocational program at your high school? You too can earn college credits for classes you're already taking! Check out the Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) program for a full list of classes at your high school.

    Make transitioning to college easier

Early College Videos

View our informational webinars below for more information about Early College at BCC.