However, most of the early college courses offered in partnership with Middlesex Community College—with the exception of two one-credit courses offered during ninth and tenth grades (see description below)—are only open to juniors and seniors who meet the program’s eligibility criteria.

Click HERE to see a full list of early college courses currently available to LHS juniors and seniors.

All 9th- and 10th-grade LHS students will be enrolled in a one-credit early college course as part of their Freshmen Academy experience and sophomore. Click HERE for descriptions of the one-credit early college courses currently available to LHS freshmen and sophomores.

2. Which students are eligible to take early college courses?

Lowell High School is committed to making early college opportunities accessible to as many students as possible, and we strongly encourage all students to consider taking early college courses.

Students and families who are interested in early college should contact our support staff to discuss program options and eligibility—regardless of current eligibility status.

Freshmen and Sophomore Eligibility

For one-credit early college courses offered during ninth and tenth grades, there are no eligibility criteria—all freshman and sophomore students are automatically enrolled in these courses. Click HERE to read descriptions of the one-credit early college courses that are offered to LHS freshmen and sophomores.

Junior and Senior Eligibility

For juniors and seniors who want to take early college courses, the following eligibility criteria will need to be met:

A PSAT or SAT score of 480 or higher in reading and writing.
A grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher.
A written recommendation from a student’s ELA teacher indicating that the student possesses the foundational reading and writing skills needed to succeed in college-level coursework. *NOTE: Science and engineering courses may require recommendations from additional teachers.

Click HERE to see a full list of early college courses currently available to LHS juniors and seniors.

*NOTE: Students who are interested in early college, but who do not currently meet one or more of the eligibility criteria above, should contact our support team to discuss alternative eligibility options and opportunities.

3. How much does early college cost?

Early college courses that are offered in partnership with Middlesex Community College are FREE to Lowell High School students—all expenses are paid by district funding, state programs, private grants, and in-kind contributions and fee waivers generously provided by Middlesex Community College.

In most cases, students will be able to access course materials and books at no cost to them or their families. However, some early college courses taught on the Middlesex Community College campus, which are open to LHS juniors and seniors, may require students to borrow or purchase some course materials.

*NOTE: Lowell High School is committed to removing financial barriers to early college participation. If students or their families are unable, for any reason, to afford the required course materials, they should contact our support team to discuss options. All conversations with support staff are confidential.

4. How much can students and families save on future college expenses by participating in early college?

Because all tuition costs and administrative fees are waived for early college courses taken through Lowell High School’s partnership with Middlesex Community College, students and their families can potentially save thousands of dollars on a college education.

Although college and university fees can vary significantly from institution to institution, the chart below shows potential average cost savings for LHS students who earn 12 early college credits before graduation:

5. How does the application process work?

To enroll in early college courses, students will need to meet the program’s eligibility requirements, complete all required forms, and get permission from a parent or guardian.

Lowell High School students and families can find a detailed description of the early college application process HERE.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact our support team.

6. What early college courses can students take?

A current list of all early college courses offered in partnership with Middlesex Community College can be found HERE.

Early college course options may change from semester to semester or year to year. If you have questions about early college courses, please contact our support team.

*NOTE: Some early college courses may have prerequisites. In these cases, students will be required to meet the prerequisites before they can enroll in the course. All applicable prerequisites are listed in course descriptions.

7. Where do students take early college courses?

Most early college courses offered in partnership with Middlesex Community College will be taught on the Lowell High School campus by certified high school faculty.

However, juniors and seniors may choose to enroll in approved early college courses taught by community college faculty on the Middlesex Community College campus. Click HERE to access MCC’s current course catalog.

If you have questions about where early college courses will be taught, please contact our support team.

8. What is the distinction between “early college” and “dual enrollment?”

At Lowell High School, the term “early college” describes programs that allow students to take college-level courses while they are still in high school. Yet because early college programs can take a wide variety of forms, several terms are commonly used when referencing different forms of early college.

Students and families should be aware that Middlesex Community College uses the term “dual enrollment” on its website and program materials to describe early college opportunities. Dual enrollment simply means that high school students participating in an early college program are enrolled in two educational institutions at the same time: in this case, their local high school and Middlesex Community College.

If you have any questions about early college programs or terminology, please contact our support team.

9. How many early college courses can students take each semester or school year?

As part of Freshman Seminar (starting in the 2020–2021 school year) and the sophomore-year core course of study (starting in 2021–2022), all ninth-grade and tenth-grade Lowell High School students will be automatically enrolled in a one-credit early college course offered during the spring semester.

Lowell High School juniors and seniors can choose to take multiple early college courses each semester or school year. Most students typically choose to take one or two early college courses per semester.

Students should consult with their parents, guidance counselors, and/or advisors to determine an appropriate selection of early college courses.

If you have questions about how many early college courses students can take, please contact our support team.

10. How do early college credits work?

Early college courses are considered both high school and college courses, which means that students who successfully complete an early college course earn both high school and college credit.

For a three-credit early college course, for example, students will earn three credits toward meeting Lowell High School’s graduation requirements and three college credits from Middlesex Community College.

The credits earned from Middlesex Community College can then be transferred to colleges and universities throughout Massachusetts and the United States.

11. How many credits can early college students earn?

During ninth and tenth grades, Lowell High School students will earn one early college credit each school year (or two credits) through their participation in the early college courses embedded in Freshman Academy and sophomore-year core course of study.

During eleventh and twelfth grades, students will typically earn either three or four credits for each early college course they successfully complete, and they can enroll in multiple early college courses each semester.

For example, a student who successfully completes Freshman Seminar, the sophomore-year one-credit course, and one early college course each semester of junior and senior years can graduate with a minimum of 14 credits (two one-credit courses + four three-credit courses = 14 credits).

If the same student successfully completed two early college courses each semester of junior and senior years (instead of one), the student would earn at least 26 credits (two one-credit courses + eight three-credit courses = 26 credits).

If you have questions about early college course credits, please contact our support team.

12. Can early college credits be transferred to other colleges and universities after graduation?

Yes: Early college credits are real college credits. One of the benefits of taking early college courses is that students can earn transferable college credit at no cost to them or their families.

In some cases, students are able to graduate from high school with semester’s worth—or more—of college credit, which can reduce the time it takes, and the tuition fees they have to pay, to earn a college degree.

For Lowell High School graduates who want to transfer early college credits to state universities and community colleges in Massachusetts, the MassTransfer program allows students to seamlessly transfer their early college credits in-state community colleges and public universities. All public community colleges and universities in Massachusetts will accept early college credits earned through Lowell High School’s partnership with Middlesex Community College.

If you have questions about the transferability of early college course credits, please contact our support team.

*NOTE: Private and out-of-state colleges and universities have different policies regarding the transfer of college credits, and these institutions may decline, for any number of reasons, to accept credits earned from Middlesex Community College or other postsecondary institutions. However, credits earned through Lowell High School’s early college partnership with MCC will NOT be declined because they are “early college” credits. Early college credits are real college credits, and the decision to accept or reject the transfer of these credits will not be based on a student’s early college status.

13. Can early college students participate in any other programs or opportunities at Middlesex Community College?

Yes. Lowell High School early college students are officially registered as part-time Middlesex Community College students.

LHS early college students receive a student identification card from MCC, and they are eligible to participate in all of the college’s programs, clubs, outings, and events—just like any other MCC student.

To learn more about these opportunities, please visit the MCC website or contact our support team.

*NOTE: Lowell High School students and families should be aware that fees and other costs may be required to participate in non-academic programs and activities offered by Middlesex Community College.

14. What are early college students responsible for?

Generally speaking, early college students are responsible for their own academic success, which includes attending all their classes, being on time for class, participating in class discussions, completing all assignments, and submitting completed work on time.

Early college students are also required to comply with all policies and behavioral expectations outlined in the Lowell High School student handbook, which includes acting respectfully at all times toward instructors and fellow students.

Juniors and seniors taking courses on the Middlesex Community College campus are also expected to comply with all policies and behavioral expectations outlined in the college’s student handbook.

For more information about early college expectations or policies, please contact our support team.

15. How much time do students typically dedicate to early college courses each week? What is the average workload?

Each early college course is different and student expectations and workloads will vary from course to course.

In general, however, early college students should anticipate at least 2.5 hours of outside-of-class work for each hour they spend in class. For example, a typical three-credit early college course is likely to require around ten hours of in-class time and out-of-class school work each week.

For specific courses, students and families should review the early college course descriptions, email the relevant instructor, or contact our support team.

16. What support services are available to early college students?

Lowell High School is committed to providing the guidance, assistance, and support that every student needs to fully and successfully participate in early college courses.

The Lowell High School early college support team is available to provide a wide range of support services to students and their families, including:

Answering questions about the early college program, application process, and registration forms, and participation requirements and expectations.
Advising students on course selection in collaboration with parents, guidance counselors, and academic advisors.
Offering presentations, workshops, tours, and other informational opportunities to interested students and families.
Connecting students with tutors, mentors, and other support staff.
Securing translation services upon request.

For additional information, please contact our support team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to commonly asked questions about Early College Lowell.

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