Program Overview
Through our Early College Scholars Program, St. Louis area students have the opportunity to enroll in courses for credit and study alongside undergraduates at WashU. Students may enroll in up to six units of credit in fall or spring semesters. Courses are the undergraduate-level courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics offered by the College of Arts & Sciences. Students commute to campus for courses.
This program is an ideal option for students who:
- Have unique academic interests not available through their high school.
- Are looking for courses beyond their high school curriculum.
- Need to enroll in a college course to fulfill a high school requirement.
- Are exploring alternative options to AP courses.
- Want to advance their knowledge in a particular academic area such as math or foreign language.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Early College Scholars students should:
- Be a current 12th grade St. Louis area high school student (graduating in 2025).
- Have a minimum 3.8 weighted cumulative grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.
- Meet any prerequisites listed for a course.
Enrollment
Priority for enrollment in fall and spring semesters is given first to full-time undergraduate students, and if space is available, then pre-college students may be permitted to enroll in select number of courses. Pre-college students should consider carefully how to balance enrollment in a WashU course with their high school curriculum and responsibilities.
VIEW COURSE AND REGISTRATION DETAILS
In the summer, students may apply to enroll in course work through our High School Summer Scholars Program.
Fees and Scholarships
The 2025 program fee for Early College Scholars is $3,985 per course. The program fee must be paid in full before enrollment can be processed. Need-based scholarship assistance is available. Children of WashU employees and returning students are eligible for a 10% discount. Details on need-based scholarships and discounts are available here.
Grades and Transcripts
At the conclusion of course work, participation in the Early College Scholars Program will be recorded and grades earned become part of a student's record at WashU. Students may request an official transcript of grades earned to be sent to any school to which they are applying for undergraduate admission. Requests should be made following procedures provided by the Office of the University Registrar.
Pre-Matriculation Credit
Courses enrolled through the Early College Scholars Program are considered pre-matriculation credit. Every university has its own pre-matriculation transfer credit policy, and we encourage students to do their research as they make future plans. For current guidelines on pre-matriculation credit at WashU, please review the Pre-Matriculation Units section of the WashU Bulletin.
If students intend to use credit earned through the Early College Scholars Program for high school graduation requirements, that must be arranged by the student with their high school.
Enrollment in courses through the Early College Scholars Program does not imply or guarantee acceptance into a degree program at WashU. For questions about the undergraduate admission process, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.
Orientation
Once a student has been enrolled for course work, they will be invited to join the Arts & Sciences Pre-College Orientation in Canvas which includes additional information about policies, procedures, and available resources.