Choose Your Own Academic Adventure: Earn a College Credential in High School!

Can’t wait to start college, but can’t find an Early College Academy that aligns with your career goals? Blaze your own trail and begin your higher education journey in the Running Start Personalized Academy.

Offered by Madison College in partnership with Madison Metropolitan School District, this academy allows you to create a customized program of study that leads to a technical diploma and/or certification in your chosen field.

student using a screwdriver to open a small engine.
Real world, hands-on learning is an important part of Early College Academies. 

Apply Your Junior Year and Attend Your Senior Year

Earn College Credit

Enroll full-time at Madison College during your senior year of high school and earn up to 30 college credits. You could finish high school with a technical diploma, industry certification and/or a jump start on your associate or bachelor’s degree.

Save Time and Money

The Running Start Personalized Academy can save you time and money by allowing you to complete a year of higher education while still in high school. Depending on your academic plan, you could earn a technical diploma or certification that enables you to launch a new career immediately after graduating high school—or transfer a year’s worth of college credits into a degree program.

Why Choose Running Start?

You don’t have to wait until your graduate high school to take the first steps toward your dream career. With the Running Start Personalized Academy, you’ll be able to customize an academic plan that helps you achieve your education and career goals faster than you ever thought possible—with little to no debt.

Post-High School Options

Once you successfully complete your Running Start Personalized Academy coursework, you could walk away with a career-ready college credential and/or certification that enables you to land a job right out high school.

You may also choose to apply your credits toward an associate degree at Madison College and/or toward a four-year degree at another institution. Our transfer agreements guarantee your admission to a number of partner schools, making your transition to a bachelor’s program easy and seamless.

Take the Next Steps

If you’re a high school junior in the Madison Metropolitan School District, you can apply to attend the Running Start Personalized Academy for your senior year.

Ready to apply? 

  1. Contact your high school counselor to discuss your academic and career goals.
  2. Confirm your eligibility and application deadlines for the Running Start Academy.
  3. Complete and submit your application!

Not an MMSD student? If you attend another public high school within the Madison College District, ask your counselor about opportunities available through the Start College Now program. If you're homeschooled or attending a private/charter school, reach out to our Early College Team to explore your options.

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