Dual Enrollment and Early College Programs

Why early college? Maybe you have great grades in high school and are looking to challenge yourself further, getting a head start on college course work. Maybe you do well in high school, but aren’t sure what to expect when it comes to going to college.

Taking a college course while in high school can have many benefits:

Boost your GPA upon successful completion of college courses
Become comfortable with college course material, college faculty, and the college campus
Learn what resources are available to you on a college campus
Graduate high school with transferrable college credits, the confidence and strategies needed to earn a college degree

Available Programs:

Dual Enrollment

Available to students currently enrolled in public, private, or home school grades 9-12
Students enroll in a college-level course at WSU
Successful completion of the course results in earned credits from the institution of higher education, as well as credits at your high school toward graduation or elective requirements for having completed the college-level course
Westfield State is proud to have been awarded Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership funds from the MA Department of Higher Education since the program's inception. These funds help to provide students free or low-cost dual enrollment experiences. Find out more about CDEP here!

High School Scholar

Available to students currently enrolled in Massachusetts public, private, or home school grades 9-12
You may enroll in a college-level course at Westfield State University, earning college credit, but do not earn high school credit concurrently
Courses are available at a discounted rate, based on seat availability

Early College

Available to students who enroll in the Westfield Promise Early College Pathway Program at our five partner high schools:

Holyoke High School
High School of Commerce, Springfield
Westfield High School
Westfield Technical Academy

Information for Enrolling

Before doing anything, make sure to speak with your school counselor about dual enrollment. Your counselor will be able to assist you with the application process and communicate with the Early College Access Coordinator about what courses are available to you.
If you are under the age of 18, and do not hold a high school diploma or GED, it is important for you and your family to understand that Financial Aid cannot be accessed.
Along with the dual enrollment application and course registration form, a FERPA Release Form must also be submitted to the Early College Access Coordinator. A hold will exist on your student account until this form is received. Once received, our records will indicate that you are enrolled as an underage student, and any information regarding enrollment and coursework at Westfield State University may be shared with the parent or legal guardian named on the release form until the student turns 18. Information regarding your grades in college courses will also be shared with your school guidance office. This allows for college course grades and credit to also be applied to high school transcripts if you are in a dual enrollment program.

What Courses can I register for?

Courses available to Dual Enrollment students include any undergraduate courses offered through the College of Graduate & Continuing Education, listed here. Courses must not have a major restriction or require a prerequisite course (PR). It is advised that any course taken as part of Dual Enrollment should be part of the MassTransfer block in order to ensure transferability to other institutions.

Important Information for Students and Families

Accepted students and their families will be required to attend an orientation on campus. Students and families will be given a handbook that includes information in regards to:

Campus expectations
Grades/withdraw policies/failure policies
Additional important information

Dual Enrollment Application What's Next?

Contact Us

Speak with your guidance counselor or our early college access coordinator:

Ryan Meersman
Assistant Director
Early College Access Programs
Westfield State University
(413) 572-8316
rmeersman@westfield.ma.edu

College of Graduate and Continuing Education

Westfield State University