Qualified high school juniors and seniors may apply for admission to UW–Madison as a University Special student to enroll in up to two courses per term for which they may earn high school credit, post-secondary credit, or both.
Read below about the options for high school students to apply and enroll as a University Special student to earn credit.
Contact us:
Adult Career and Special Student Services
highschoolcredit@dcs.wisc.edu
608-263-6960
Already admitted?
Visit our Orientation and Enrollment page for next steps!
Early College Credit Program
Wisconsin’s Early College Credit Program (ECCP) is available to Wisconsin public and private high school juniors and seniors for fall, spring, and summer terms. Under ECCP, the cost of tuition for approved courses is shared among the school district or private school, the state, and in some cases the students.
Qualified high school juniors and seniors taking ECCP classes at UW-Madison are admitted as University Special students. They are permitted to take up to two (2) online, blended, or in-person courses per term.
Please read our Application instructions
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Admissions eligibility requirements
- Be a high school junior or senior with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 (overall and in the most recent semester).
- Attend a Wisconsin public or private high school.
- Have support for your academic plan from your high school guidance counselor or principal, and district (for public schools).
Application process
Read the Application instructions (PDF) and then, complete steps 1 & 2 by the following deadlines:
- March 1 for fall term
- Oct 1 for spring term
- Feb 1 for summer term
- Talk with your high school guidance counselor to see if ECCP is a good fit for you. Your counselor will consider how the class aligns with your academic plans and whether you meet the prerequisites for taking a college-level class.
- Obtain an ECCP participation form from your high school guidance counselor or download the PDF and submit the completed form to your school officials. Then, complete step 3 by the following deadlines:
- May 15 for fall term
- Dec 1 for spring term
- May 15 for summer term (**Note: summer enrollment begins in early April, so submit your application as early as possible.)
- Apply to UW–Madison as a University Special student using the University Special student application (select High School student – UNHS as your student type) attaching your most recent high school transcript and your signed ECCP form. If your district is sending the ECCP form on your behalf, please ask them to email it to highschoolcredit@dcs.wisc.edu.
Tuition and fees
All student enrollment generates a tuition bill. Billing will depend on the type of credit you will be earning (high school, post-secondary, or both). You will receive an eBill to notify you of the amount of tuition being charged. School districts won’t receive their tuition statements until near the drop deadline, so your eBill may not reflect their portion as paid.
Please keep in mind the following:
- You are responsible for purchasing any textbooks or class supplies that are required for your course and should contact your school district about reimbursement.
- If you enroll in a course that was not approved by your school district, you are responsible for paying 100% of the tuition and fees as well as any penalties that may accrue due to late enrollment or late payment.
Your admission letter will indicate whether you are a Wisconsin resident for tuition purposes. If you have questions about your residency status, contact the residency office at res4tuition@em.wisc.edu or 608-262-1355. To check current per credit rates visit the bursar’s fee page.
High school Special student
The High School Special option (formerly the Traditional Program) is available to public and private high school juniors and seniors for fall, spring, and summer terms. Students pay full tuition and fees.
Qualified high school juniors and seniors taking classes at UW-Madison are admitted as University Special students to take up to two (2) courses per term.
Students who do not live in the Madison area are welcome to explore our online course options. There is no housing available for high school students seeking for-credit coursework.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Admissions eligibility requirements
- Be a high school junior or senior with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (overall and in the most recent semester).
- Attend a private or public high school. Home-schooled high school juniors and seniors are also welcome to apply.
- Receive a recommendation for admission from your high school counselor or principal and their support of your enrollment plan.
Application process
- Apply to UW–Madison as a University Special student using the University Special student application (select High School student – UNHS as your student type) attaching your most recent high school transcript.
- Submit the following materials via email highschoolcredit@dcs.wisc.edu or as an attachment to the Special student application:
- A completed High School Special student agreement form (PDF) which serves as recommendation from your high school counselor or principal
- Note: School district approval is NOT required
- If you are a home-school student or otherwise cannot obtain a high school counselor/principal signature, you may submit the form without it.
- When completing this form be sure to select High School Special (NOT Early College Credit Program)
- A completed High School Special student agreement form (PDF) which serves as recommendation from your high school counselor or principal
Complete all steps of the application process (listed above) by the following deadlines:
- May 15 for fall term
- Dec 1 for spring term
- May 15 for summer term (**Note: summer enrollment begins in early April, so submit your application as early as possible.)
Tuition and fees
After you enroll in a class, you will receive an eBill notification to your @wisc.edu email; you can view the eBill in your MyUW Student Center. Your bill will indicate your tuition due date which is typically two weeks after you enroll.
Your letter of admission will indicate whether you are a Wisconsin resident for tuition purposes. If you have questions about your residency status, please contact the residency office at res4tuition@em.wisc.edu or 608-262-1355. Visit the bursar’s fee page for the most current tuition rates per credit.
Specialized summer programs
UW-Madison often hosts specialized summer programs for high school students to earn college credit. Specialized programs are NOT open to everyone, and each program has very specific eligibility criteria.
Residential, study abroad, and other unique programs are not eligible for Wisconsin’s Early College Credit Program (ECCP), as these often have nonstandard tuition structures and additional admission requirements.
Interested students should contact the individual programs to learn more about eligibility requirements, costs and fees, programmatic details and next steps.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Precollege Summer Arts Intensive
For additional information about the program, please visit Badger Summer Scholars or contact info@precollege.wisc.edu
Before applying, please consider:
Enrolling in a college course at UW-Madison as a high school student is not to be taken lightly — it’s a big commitment and requires a lot of responsibility. Please carefully consider if taking a class at UW-Madison is right for you at this time. Review the following items to get a better understanding of what it means to be a High School Special student.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Commute time
Depending on where your high school is located, getting to and from campus can take a considerable amount of time. Parking is often difficult to find so build in time for finding a spot (if you intend to drive) and getting to your class from parking. Most courses involve both lecture and discussion and/or lab sections which may meet at different times of day so you’ll want to factor this in as well.
Enrollment not guaranteed
High school University Special students are in the last group of students to enroll in courses; priority is given to degree-seeking students even when enrolling from a wait list. Final enrollment status may not be determined until after the first week of classes. There is no guarantee you will be able to get a spot in a class.
Final exams
Final exams are usually scheduled outside of regular class time. Refer to course details in the Course Search and Enroll app to ensure you are available for final exams.
UW–Madison transcript
As an enrolled high school student you earn university credit and establish a permanent UW–Madison record. The GPA earned from coursework completed as a high school University Special student would be applied to your undergraduate GPA should you attend UW–Madison as a degree-seeking student in the future.
Courses taken as a University Special student become part of the permanent University record and may affect subsequent admission to post secondary institutions. A poor or incomplete grade could have a negative impact on a future admission decision.
Rights and responsibilities
Once enrolled, you have all the rights of University students as well as the responsibilities including meeting deadlines for enrollment, adding and dropping courses, and withdrawing. The Course Search and Enroll app has deadline information. For questions regarding University Special student policy, contact ACSSS.
This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Meetings outside of class
Some courses require student group meetings outside of class time which may include evenings. If you have other evening activities and/or live a considerable distance from campus, you’ll want to keep this in mind when deciding if taking a class will work for you.
Certain courses rarely available
Due to high demand from degree-seeking students, the availability of certain courses is limited. Languages, computer science, and sciences are a few examples of the types of classes that are often in high demand from degree-seeking students.
Grades
Enrolled high school students are expected to fully participate in classes and are graded on par with their undergraduate classmates.
Placement tests
Placement tests are available for math and foreign language to help you determine what level course is appropriate for you. For math placement testing, see Testing and Evaluation. For language placement testing, see Languages at UW-Madison. You may also need to work with advisors in the math or foreign language departments to determine the correct placement based upon previous coursework you may have had.
Student privacy rights
Student Privacy Rights (FERPA) rules apply to ALL University students. Communication is expected from students (not parents), and is restricted by law in regards to student record, including course schedule. This includes communicating with faculty, teaching assistants, advisors, and deans.
Next steps to becoming a high school special student
Once you’ve completed the application process for the program option of your choice, visit our Orientation and Enrollment page to learn more about your next steps!
