Steps to start
Who is eligible?
To be admitted to Pierce College's Running Start Program, a student must:
- Be a Junior or Senior
- Be under 21 years of age
- With a High School Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Qualify as having college–level skills 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 ($10.50 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 $10.50 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
Meet with an Running Start Advisor by appointment to select classes accordingly and complete the registration form.
There is a registration deadline for all Running Start students. See 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 any lab, distance learning and course fees, and must also pay for a parking parking sticker if parking on campus.
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.
