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Early College Pathways

College
Reimagined

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High School
is the Time to Start College

Your teen can take control of their education with value-driven early college pathways.

Our mission is to expand access to education by delivering dual enrollment courses online, at a campus location and at collaborative Wisconsin high schools. Motivated high school students can take college classes while still in high school that earn credit toward a degree and their high school diploma.

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Ways to Take College Classes in High School

We offer three accessible and flexible early college pathways to address student needs.

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College Credit in High School

Students can take college courses in their high school that are taught by a high school teacher approved as a UW-Green Bay instructor.

See Participating Schools

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Early College Credit Program

Students take dual enrollment courses at a UW-Green Bay campus location or online. Students learn along-side other college students in this state program.

Chase the Future

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Dual Enrollment Access Academy

High school students take online courses taught by UW-Green Bay instructors that are designed specifically for high school students.

Learn With Your Peers

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Student Benefits

When students engage in an early college program, their college degree-completion success rate improves dramatically. Additional benefits include:

  • Getting a head start on college
  • Saving money on tuition
  • Accelerating the completion of a college degree
  • Developing skills for college success
  • Gaining a competitive advantage over other university applicants
  • Earning credits that will transfer to all Universities of Wisconsin and most other colleges and universities
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Dedicated Student Advising

Working with school counselors, we offer students individual attention, guiding them to the most optimal early college program. In addition, we support students in the following ways:

  • Assessing student interests and future plans
  • Choosing courses
  • Navigating the college application
  • Encouraging positive study habits
  • Giving emotional support

Gear Up

As the GEAR UP higher education partner, we make available a variety of opportunities for students that complement services provided by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's (DPI) Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Program (WEOP). GEAR UP stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, and the partnership is designed to assist low-income students in grades 6-12 at target schools obtain a high school diploma and prepare for postsecondary education success. Wisconsin target schools include:

  • Ashland
  • Bayfield
  • Green Bay
  • Milwaukee
  • Racine
  • Shawano
  • Sheboygan
  • Wausau

Encouraging Student Success

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Rising Phoenix

School districts can tailor an early college pathway specific to their goals.

Rising Phoenix is a groundbreaking collaboration between the university and area school districts, providing students with a future-proofing blend of dual enrollment courses, ongoing student success coaching and an opportunity to earn a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts and Sciences degree while still in high school.

Rise Higher

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Meet the Unstoppable
Nadia

"I knew I wanted to go to college and wanted to take upper level classes in high school. It could be risky to say, yeah, I’m going to start taking college classes now. But with the Rising Phoenix program I felt like I could handle it, and I was willing to put in the work."

Nadia Neziri
Rising Phoenix
B.S. Environmental Planning & Policy '25

Learn More About Nadia

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Want to Know More?

Connect with us. If you'd like to learn more about our early college programs, don't hesitate to reach out.

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