Running Start

Phone: 253-566-6061
Email: runstart@tacomacc.edu
Website: https://www.tacomacc.edu/academics-programs/college-high-school/runningstart

Running Start is a partnership between the Washington State community college system and Washington’s public-school districts through which eligible high school juniors and seniors may enroll in TCC courses tuition-free (other costs apply).

College credits earned through Running Start apply toward high school graduation and satisfy college requirements (within guidelines of the program). 

To be admitted to Tacoma Community College's Running Start program, a student must:

• Be enrolled in a public high school. Private school students can have dual enrollment at both private and public high schools for access to Running Start classes. Home-schooled students will either enroll through their local public high school or school district.

• Be a junior or senior according to their high school.

• Display college-level English skills. College-level Math placement is not required for admission to the program. However, students who plan to enroll in math or sciences courses using Running Start must place at college level math.

• NOTE: High school graduation requirements are established by the high school. Each quarter, students meet with their high school counselor to identify how TCC courses will apply toward graduation.

• NOTE: Students with high school grade-point-averages of less than 2.50 are admitted but may be advised to enroll in a college success course their first quarter in the program. Students at Tacoma Community College must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or above and complete all courses. If a student falls below academic standard, they are placed on a series of warning, probation, and then suspension from the program.