Running Start - Steps to Start

Who is eligible?

To be admitted to Pierce College's Running Start Program, a student must:

  • Be a Junior or Senior.
  • Turn 16 by the start of the first quarter of enrollment and under the age of 21. Students under the age of 16 can petition for an underage admission exception. Students should begin the petition process prior to the start of the quarter he or she wishes to attend. For more information regarding the under-age admission exception, please visit http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/dist/forms/under_age_adms_form.pdf
  • Have a High School Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Through the COMPASS assessment, students must place into English 101 to qualify to take college-level courses. To take classes requiring college-level math placement, students must place into college-level math AND reading 101.

Students attending private schools must be evaluated as juniors and seniors by a public high school official and enroll at that school. It is not mandatory that students are attending classes at the public high school. It is possible to have dual enrollment at both a private and public high school for access to the Running Start Program.

Home-schooled students must file an Intent to Home School and be determined to be at junior or senior status by their local school district. For further information, please contact the appropriate school district.

Running Start New Student Checklist

Download a copy of the New Student Checklist (pdf format)

Step One: Take the ASSET or COMPASS ($15.00 FEE)

New students should contact the Testing Center (Ft. Steilacoom Campus 964-6521, Puyallup Campus 840-8343) to schedule an appointment to take the COMPASS test. There is a $15.00 COMPASS test fee.

The Assessment Center will provide an Admissions Form to be completed the day of the COMPASS assessment.

For more information on the COMPASS assessment visit the Testing Center.

Step Two: Meet with your high school counselor/school district

After taking the COMPASS and qualifying for the Running Start program, students need to meet with their high school counselor to review your score sheet. At that time the counselor will recommend what classes the student should take and to complete their high school pre-enrollment form.

Every item on the pre-enrollment form must be completed (including the classes to be taken at the college) before it will be accepted by Pierce College. Home-schooled students, after submitting an Intent to Homeschool with the appropriate school district, must have a parent complete and sign the pre-enrollment form.

Step Three: Meet with a Running Start Advisor to register for classes

Schedule an appointment with a Running Start Advisor to select classes and complete the registration form.

Registration begins May 7.

For important registration deadlines, see the Running Start Important Dates Calendar:

Step Four: Register and pay for classes

After meeting with an Advisor, proceed to the Registration window to register. Then continue on to the cashier's window to pay any applicable fees. Tuition (100 level and above and up to 18 credits per quarter) for Running Start students is paid by the School District. However, students must pay student fees, lab and/or course fees.

Step Five: Attend a mandatory orientation for New Running Start students

When you meet with a Running Start Advisor, you will also need to register to attend a New Student Orientation before the first day of classes. All new Running Start students must attend an orientation or else they will be withdrawn from their classes.

Valerie Frey
Running Start Manager (PY)
(253) 864-3210

Sarah Hoaglin
Program Specialist (FS)
(253) 964-6755

Terri Carney
Program Specialist (PY)
(253) 840-8339

Fort Steilacoom

Advising: (253) 964-6520
Testing: (253) 964-6521
runningstart@pierce.ctc.edu

Puyallup

Advising: (253) 840-8329
Testing: (253) 840-8343
puyrunningstart@pierce.ctc.edu