Running Start
Running Start
Get on the fast track to a college education!
2020-2021 participating high schools
Get a running start on college!
Transferring after Running Start
Get on the fast track to a college education!
Running Start allows highly-qualified high school juniors to earn a high school diploma from their local high school or homeschool while simultaneously earning a transfer degree from SWIC. While courses are offered at all SWIC campuses (Belleville, Sam Wolf Granite City, and Red Bud), specific programs and courses may be available only at the Belleville Campus. This is a two-year program and may not be completed early.
Running Start 1.0 allows highly qualified high school seniors to earn one year of college credit while simultaneously earning credit to earn their high school diploma from their local high school or homeschool. At the end of the year, high school graduates may choose to return to SWIC to complete an associate degree or they may transfer to another college or university. This is a one-year program and may not be completed early.
Running Start students will be integrated into existing college classes with advanced rigor and subject matter. Students will have the opportunity to work in a challenging educational environment and to excel academically while completing high school and college requirements.
2020-2021 participating high schools
The Running Start Program began as a pilot program in fall 2012 with ten students from one high school. Today, the program has 264 students enrolled for spring 2020, representing 19 public high school partners and area home schools.
Belleville
Cahokia
Collinsville
Columbia
Coulterville
East St. Louis
East St. Louis Charter
Freeburg
Granite City
Highland
Home schools
Lebanon
Madison
Marissa
Mascoutah
New Athens
O’Fallon
Sparta
Triad
Waterloo
Get a running start on college!
As SWIC students, Running Start participants can transfer to a four-year institution in the same manner as other community college students. Students may choose to participate in high school athletics and other after-school programs. Running Start students may participate in SWIC student clubs, organizations, and activities, but may not compete in intercollegiate athletics.
Program Requirements
To be eligible for the traditional Running Start program, students must meet the following criteria:
Be currently enrolled as a high school sophomore, preparing to enter junior year
Possess and maintain a minimum 3.2/4.00 GPA
Be in good standing with their high school institution
Be on track to graduate on time
Be recommended by their high school principal or counselor
Have completed one year of high school algebra and geometry
Take the SWIC placement assessment and test into college-level English and math courses
Have completed all documents necessary for participation
To be eligible for Running Start 1.0, students must meet the following criteria:
Be currently enrolled as a high school junior, preparing to enter senior year
Possess and maintain a minimum 3.2/4.00 GPA
Be in good standing with their high school institution
Be on track to graduate on time
Be recommended by their high school principal or counselor
Have completed two years of high school algebra and geometry
Take the SWIC placement assessment and test into college-level English and math courses
Have completed all documents necessary for participation
Southwestern Illinois College has established the minimum program requirements listed above. Some high schools have enhanced the program requirements. Partner high schools may elect to limit the number of students who may participate. Please contact your local high school for more information.
You Should Know
Through Running Start, students will have the following responsibilities and opportunities:
Be subject to all college rules and regulations
Begin creating their college transcripts and records
Be considered as both a high school and college student
Attend school according to the college calendar
Tuition and Fees
The participation fees vary by high school.
Students are expected to provide their own transportation to the college campus. They may drive to any SWIC campus with no charge for parking.
Need more information?
Contact your local high school principal or the Running Start office at 618-641-5064 or RunningStart@swic.edu.
Students who qualify for the program by meeting all standards and criteria are identified by the high school and subsequently invited to an informational meeting for students and parents.
Transferring after Running Start
Running Start participants have transferred to these colleges and universities following program completion:
Running Start students have been accepted by these additional colleges and universities:
Arizona State University | Lindenwood University Belleville | University of Illinois |
Blackburn College | Maryville University | University of Illinois-Springfield |
Brigham Young University, Provo | McKendree University | University of Indianapolis |
Coe College | Murray State University | University of Minnesota-Duluth |
Colorado State | New Mexico Tech | University of Missouri |
Concordia University Wisconsin | Olivet Nazarene University | University of Missouri Science & Technology |
Culver-Stockton College | Pennsylvania State University | University of Missouri-Kansas City |
Dixie State University | Rochester Institute of Technology | University of Nebraska Omaha |
Eastern Illinois University | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | University of Tampa |
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | Southern Illinois University | University of Tennessee-Knoxville |
Fisk University | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | University of Wyoming |
George Washington University | Southeast Missouri State | University of Kentucky |
Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College | St. Louis College of Pharmacy | Washington University |
Greenville University | Saint Louis University | Webster University |
Hillsdale College | University North Carolina-Wilmington | Wichita State University |
Illinois State University | University of Alabama Huntsville | Xavier University of Louisiana |
Indiana University Perdue University Indianapolis | University of Colorado |
Running Start students have been accepted by these additional colleges and universities:
Alcorn State University | DigiPen Institute of Technology | Milikin University |
Arizona State University | Duke University | Murray State University |
Arkansas State University | Eastern Illinois University | St. Ambrose University |
Augusta University | Fontbonne University | St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing |
Belmont University | Franciscan University | St. Xavier University |
Bradley University | Georgia Institute of Technology | South Dakota State University |
Butler University | Illinois Institute of Technology | Southwest Minnesota State University |
Carroll University | Indiana University | Truman State University |
Carthage College | Jackson State University | University of Arizona |
Columbia College-Chicago | Loyola University-Chicago | University of Chicago |
Concordia University | Malcolm X College | University of Denver |
Culver-Stockton College | Maryville University | University of Mississippi |
College transfer information collected from graduate surveys.