Deadlines to Apply:
MAY 1 for Fall or Summer or NOVEMBER 15 for Spring.
Hawaiʻi Community College offers several opportunities for eligible high school students to earn college credit while still in high school. Explore the options below to find the program that best fits your situation.
Early Admit
Early Admit is available to public, private, charter, and homeschool students who want to take college courses at Hawaiʻi Community College.
Students who successfully complete an approved college course will earn college credit. Applicants who are 14 years of age or older, or rising freshmen at a public, private, charter, or independent high school, may be considered for admission to the Early Admit Program.
More Information
For more information about registering for Early Admit, contact:
Manono Campus: Glenn-Dee Kauffman, gkuwaye@hawaii.edu
Pālamanui Campus: Precious Atendido, pmalejo@hawaii.edu
Running Start
Running Start is a statewide program that provides academically qualified students enrolled in a Hawaiʻi Department of Education school, including charter schools, the opportunity to take college classes through the University of Hawaiʻi system as part of their high school coursework.
Students who successfully complete an approved college course will earn college credit. Applicants who are 14 years of age or older, or rising freshmen at a public, private, charter, or independent high school, may be considered for admission to the Early Admit Program.
More Information
For more information about registering for Running Start, contact:
Manono Campus: Glenn-Dee Kauffman, gkuwaye@hawaii.edu
Pālamanui Campus: Precious Atendido, pmalejo@hawaii.edu
Early College High School (ECHS)
With Early College High School, college instructors teach college courses at the high school, allowing students to earn both high school and college credit at the same time.
These courses carry the same content and student learning outcomes as courses taught on campus.
More Information
For more information about registering for ECHS, please contact your high school counselor.
At a Glance
| Program Feature | Early Admit | Running Start | Early College |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public school students eligible | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Private school students eligible | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Charter school students eligible | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Homeschool students eligible* | ✔ | ||
| Earn college credits** | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Earn high school credits | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Classes at Hawaiʻi CC campus | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Classes at high school | ✔ | ||
| Select your own courses | ✔ | ✔ | |
| High school chooses courses | ✔ | ||
| No health clearance required | * | ✔ | ✔ |
| Student pays tuition | ✔ | ✔ | |
| High school pays tuition | ✔ | ||
| Use Kamaʻāina Application | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Submit Hawaiʻi CC Early Admissions application | ✔ | ||
| Submit Dual Credit form | ✔ | ✔ |
* Homeschooled students must submit DOE Form 4140 and meet health clearance requirements for in-person courses.
** Earning college and high school credit at the same time requires high school approval.