College in the High School Overview
The Central Washington University College in the High School (CiHS) program allows high school students to take CWU courses from approved high school instructors without leaving their high school campus. Students grades 9-12 are able to participate in the program.
Benefits:
- Students can accelerate their academic studies by earning college credit while attending high school without giving up their high school experience.
- Students have the opportunity to experience college level work in a familiar environment.
- Completing rigorous high school coursework and earning college credit can strengthen the student’s college application as well as help meet basic college and university requirements.
- Students applying to CWU prior to high school graduation will be given the $500 Early Scholar Tuition Waiver, provided they have earned a 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher in their CWU courses.
- The undergraduate CWU application fee will be waived for students who participated in the CWU CiHS program.
- Low cost: 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders can register using the Cornerstone funding model, which costs $60 per credit ($300 for a 5 credit class) starting in Fall 2022.
- Students also have potential to earn college credit for free through the Consolidated Equitable and Sustainable (CES) Dual Credit Grant, if the school applies for the Washington State OSPI grant and receives the award. Eligible students can enroll through either or both funding models.
- Students can earn up to 15 Central Washington University credits per term in high schools where sufficient classes are offered.
CWU College in the High School, by the numbers (2021-2022 academic year):
6,300 students across the state submitted
10,944 registrations (total), for
51,290 college credits earned concurrently with their high school credits.
395 approved CWU instructors at
144 high schools around the state taught
64 unique courses of study.
$300 is the cost of a class through CWU College in the High School, while
$1374 is the cost of a 5 credit class for a student on campus, including fees.
Video: Introduction to College in the High School
This brief video is appropriate for parents and students who are looking for a brief introduction. Updated for Fall 2022.
Introduction to College in the High School (Spanish Translation) has the same information, which has been translated to Spanish.
Este video es apropiado para padres y estudiantes que buscan una breve introducción. Actualizado otoño de 2022.
College in the High School Participation Guides
Collaboration between high school teachers, district administrators and students and their parents/guardians is coordinated with Central Washington University faculty and diverse state/national agencies by the College in the High School office at CWU.
The Participation Guides are for the CiHS program participants, and provide details regarding processes, expectations, responsibilities and printable forms, sorted by the most likely consumer.
School Administrators, Counselors, Instructors, and Students & Parents are invited to peruse comprehensive material included in all College in the High School Pathways and contact us with any questions.
See map of CiHS partner school locations
In partnership with CWU Faculty, Staff and Administration
Central collaborates with high schools to offer rigorous classes taught by approved instructors, set expectations, provide student progress and evaluation structure, administer registrations, financials, grades and credits, and renders support and opportunity to all students.
- More detail on CWU Partner Responsibilities
- Courses offered through College in the High School
- Links to additional information and resources through CWU
CWU College in the High School News
National Accreditation Achieved
Central Washington University’s College in the High School (CiHS) program achieved national accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) in spring 2022 after a multi-year process. Read full story.
Governed by state and national regulations
CWU College in the High School is a comprehensive, consistent and sound provider of university education within the high schools of Washington State because this program adheres to rules, codes, policies and accreditation requirements from state and national entities. Learn more about the state and national influences on College in the High School.
Learn more about High School Partnerships, program comparison (Running Start, CiHS, AP), mission and vision.