College Before Graduation

This is the most convenient way to earn college credits. Opportunities vary with each high school. To find out what courses are offered, please visit the Grad+ website or talk with a counselor at the school. Register for the high school course as usual and then, to earn college credit, complete the following steps:

For FRCC (CE) courses: 

   Quick Links to Apply

1. Apply to FRCC. When the application is complete you will receive a S number.

2. Complete the CBG Agreement. You're teacher will provide the link.

3. When your materials are complete, FRCC will register you for the course(s).

4. IMPORTANT: The application and the CBG Agreement must be submitted within 7 business days of the semester start date in order for the student to be registered for college credit.

5. If you withdraw from the course before the end of the semester, you must withdraw through the FRCC eWolf system. Please contact the Concurrent Enrollment team at FRCC for guidance: BCC.CE@frontrange.edu. If you don't complete the class without formally withdrawing, you will receive a failing grade from FRCC.

For courses offered through MSU, CU Succeed and other institutions:

Please see your teacher for enrollment instructions. If you need financial assistance for tuition please talk to your teacher. For CU Succeed courses, please visit the CBG CU Succeed webpage.

Front Range Community College offers select courses open to only BVSD high school students. Many of these courses are offered online asynchronously, Remote Real-time or at one of the high schools after school or during summer. This option allows students with limited access to college courses in their high school the opportunity to be in college classes with other high school students.

Visit the District Select page for a list of courses. You must be approved for classes each semester. Follow the steps on the CBG FRCC page.

Remote Real-Time (During the scheduled course times, students will meet remotely in real-time via Zoom or WebEx. There are no scheduled in-person meetings, and the course will be completed 100% real-time remote.)

   Quick Links to Apply

Once the CBG office has reviewed and approved your request, you will receive an approval email with further information.

BVSD will pay the equivalent of the current community college tuition rate at FRCC, MSU and CU Boulder. This amount will cover full tuition at FRCC and MSU (contracted rate). Students taking courses at CU Boulder will pay what BVSD and COF does not cover. Tuition at other colleges and universities are the full responsibility of the student and formal request in not needed.

• To see what courses are available, please visit the college webpage (listed in the left side panel). Discuss your choices with your high school counselor or designee. You are responsible for transportation to and from your classes. Remember to leave time in your schedule for travel and parking. Students are not allowed to leave early or arrive late to their high school classes. This includes block days. We suggest you find classes that are offered either first thing in the morning or late afternoon.
• Apply to your school of choice:

Front Range Community College (FRCC) 

 Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU) 

   University of Colorado Boulder

• Complete the appropriate CBG Google Request form. This must be done each semester for every class you are requesting. Without this, BVSD will not be able to pay your tuition. If you’re unsure yet of the exact course, please request your best guess.
• Once the folks at the CBG office review and approve your request, you will receive an email with instructions on how to register for classes. Once you have registered for classes, please let your counselor know.
• Show up for class! 

With all college classes, if you are struggling or falling behind, communicate with your college instructor. You have access to all of the support resources available through the college. Students with any type of disability are encouraged to reach out to the Disability Support office at the college prior to the start of class. IEP and 504 plans must be reviewed by the college before accommodations can be made.

BVSD students can work towards an associate degree from Front Range Community College (FRCC) while enrolled in high school, tuition free! A minimum of 15 FRCC credits must be completed on FRCC Campus. Students will individualize their courses after consulting with FRCC advisors and looking at the course offerings at their home high school. 

Associate Degree Example Pathway PDF (English)

Associate Degree Example Pathway (SPANISH)

To learn more meet with a FRCC advisor to choose a degree program or email BVSD at careerandcollege@bvsd.org.

Students completing a minimum of 9 college credits by the end of their senior year, may be eligible for the ASCENT program. This includes one year tuition, books and fees paid for at either FRCC or MSU.

Deadline to apply is May 1 of your senior year.

For details and the application, please visit the CBG ASCENT webpage.

Are you interested in a career in teaching or school counseling? TREP is the program for you! Get two years of paid tuition, books and fees at either FRCC or MSU.

To learn how to qualify and to apply, visit the CBG TREP webpage.

Deadline to apply is March 30 of your senior year.

Deciding if earning college credit is right for you is a personal decision. Here are some things to consider when making your decision. 

Types of CoursesStudents can access courses that lead to industry certifications in any program offered at our partner colleges. Examples include automotive, business, cybersecurity, nursing assistant, forestry, and graphic design. Many of these certifications are the first steps to AA/AS and BA/BS degrees. Also available are courses to meet college general education requirements, such as English Composition I & II, Social Science, World Languages, Math, and Sciences. See Transferability of Credit for more information.

Transferability of Credit

So many options but what is best for you? If you’re hoping to save money and time, you need to be strategic about your choices. How and if your credits will be accepted by another college is up to that college and your area of study. It’s always good to check with your top choices before taking a lot of college courses. All public Colorado colleges and universities participate in the Guaranteed Transfer (GT) program. Credits earned in these courses are guaranteed to be accepted as long as they align with your college program of study. GT courses are marked as GT with another pair of letters and a number, i.e. GT-MA1, GT-CO1. Usually only a select number of credits in a GT category are needed. Save the syllabus from each of your college courses taken in high school; they may be requested if you wish to transfer the credits.

Readiness

College courses may go at a faster pace and delve deeper into a subject than regular high school courses. Self-motivation and time management are key to college success. It is the student’s responsibility to show up to class, submit assignments on time, and participate in all classes. There are resources available if a student needs help with writing and math assignments. Courses taken on the college campus often meet only twice a week while moving at a faster pace. College courses offered in the high school meet within the regular high school schedule allowing students more support as they adapt to the college rigor and expectations.

Time Expectations

College students are told to expect 2-3 hours per credit for studying and completing assignments. For a 3 credit class, that is 6-9 hours of work per week outside of class. This amount can vary depending on the type of course and your level of preparedness. Take this expectation into consideration especially when taking courses outside of the regular school day. Students taking classes at the college need to plan travel time into their schedule.

Cost of Tuition

All courses offered through FRCC are tuition-free and BVSD will cover the cost of associated fees. MSU courses taken at their campus or online are tuition-free; those offered in our high school are at steeply discounted rates, usually $50/credit. For CU Boulder courses, BVSD will cover the equivalent of the FRCC tuition rate; families are responsible for the remaining balance, books and fees. Courses offered through CU Succeed (UC Denver and UCCS), which are taught in select high schools, are offered at reduced rates (between $50-$83/credit). 

When COF is deducted, tuition at these schools can run from $156/credit at FRCC to $281 at MSU Denver to $1440-2124/credit at CU Boulder.

Accommodations

Students who have a 504 or IEP need to meet with the Disability Office at the college they want to attend. Students attending FRCC courses at their high school only need to meet with the disability office if their accommodation is not listed in this document.