About Running Start

About Running Start

Running Start participants are extremely successful and academically advanced. Did you know:

  • Over 1,100 students participated in Running Start in 2022-2021.
  • The majority of Running Start students (95%) take academic prep/transfer classes.
  • At least 51% of Running Start students earn an associate degree and high school diploma at the same time.

Many Running Start students find that they thrive in a college environment, challenge themselves to perform their best, and exceed their academic goals.

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Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

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Enrolling as a Running Start is a multi-step process.

  1. Apply to Olympic College and email required documents to the Running Start office.
  2. Once you've been accepted, complete all of the new student enrollment steps listed in your acceptance email. 

Apply to Olympic CollegeComplete Enrollment Steps

Running Start Benefits & Limitation

Benefits
  • Tuition for Running Start classes is free (up to a maximum of 1.4 full-time equivalency combined enrollment between the high school and college).
  • Students have the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes that may not be offered at their high school.
  • Students can earn up to two years of college credit and save on two years of college tuition costs.
  • Students have an opportunity to experience college classes while still in high school.
  • Students may continue to participate in high school sports and activities.
  • Academically qualified students have the opportunity to take more challenging or advanced courses.
  • Our diverse college student population provides for a rich classroom learning environment.
  • Students have an opportunity to enroll in both academic transfer and professional technical skills classes with outstanding college faculty.
  • Students have access to instruction using state-of-the-art technology.

Student Voices

Student Voices

Read these testimonials and words of wisdom from previous students to get a sense of what it will be like for you in Running Start.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. If you were a 4.0 or high grade student in high school, don't expect to have the same grades here. It isn't impossible, but it will take a lot of work and diligence. One of the lessons I learned from this experience is that you will start to find your group in college. While you have your friends in high school, you start to develop your true character on campus.
Hailey Connell, North Mason High School, 2020
I don't think there is just one way to be successful. We're all different and we need different things. Your professor are there for you and want to help you. Email them and visit them when you need some help. They don't bite. Get help early! Either from a professor or the tutoring center.
Lili Bell, Home School Student, 2020
Something I didn't expect Running Start to teach me was that it's a great opportunity to experiment with your education. There is such a variety of opportunities at OC, I was able to try a little bit of everything. Specifically, I was able to experiment with different subjects to figure out what I was and wasn't interested in, and I tried out different class times (morning and evening) and structures (online and in-person). I'm really grateful for those opportunities because learning my preferences now will make the rest of my college journey easier.
Vianne Daniels, Kingston High School, 2020
Time management skills are very important in college. Having a planner filled out with everything I needed for for the quarter was very helpful for me. One thing I learned in Running Start is knowing that it is okay to fall down. But the way you pick yourself up in the experience will determine the outcome. You have to always be positive in your work and try the best that you can in everything that you do.
Sharonrose Chacon, Olympic High School, 2020