High School ACCESS | Apply & Enroll

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Learn more about Continuing Education High School ACCESS enrollment requirements.

High School ACCESS Enrollment Eligibility

High school students aged 16 and over are eligible to enroll in college courses with parent/guardian and a high school official’s permission. Homeschooled students are eligible with parent permission. The permissions needed are included on the High School ACCESS non-degree application as a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) form, which you will be required to sign each term. 

Students under 16 years of age are required to meet with a CE academic advisor prior to enrolling, and will be directed to schedule an appointment.

How to Apply & Enroll

Deadlines:

Spring 2025

  • The priority deadline to submit application materials: December 1.
  • The final deadline: January 20.

Before applying, talk to your parent/guardian and your high school counselor about your interest in the High School ACCESS program. When you are ready, be sure to follow the specific application process outlined by your school district as well as the following steps:

Step 1: Get the Information and Apply
  • Review application materials with your parent/guardian.
  • Meet with your HS Counselor to get district approval applications (if applicable).
  • Go to the CU Boulder Class Search to search for courses.
  • Submit the short, free and non-competitive application:

Spring 2025 High School ACCESS Application 

Once you’ve applied and received your student ID you may be eligible to apply for our need-based scholarship.

If you’re under 16 years of age, you’re required to complete an advising session with a CE academic advisor. Please schedule a phone or video appointment.

If you're interested in using a tuition assistance dependent benefit, please schedule an academic advising appointment before applying.

We encourage all students to meet with a CE academic advisor at least once a term for additional guidance.
 

Prior to registration:

  • All students: Submit the Enrollment Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU must be on file each term to be eligible to enroll. First-time applicants will complete this form within the High School ACCESS application and are not required to submit the document separately.
  • Students interested in receiving district assistance for tuition:

Send completed forms to hsaccess@colorado.edu.

Students planning to take courses with prerequisites must provide proof that they have completed the prerequisites to avoid receiving an error message when attempting to enroll in course. Prerequisites may be satisfied via courses taken for college credit, AP or IB (test scores required), or CU Boulder language placement exams.

Send email copies of your transcripts and/or test scores to hsaccess@colorado.edu.

If you are a resident of Colorado and are 13+ years old, you can apply for a stipend that will cover a portion of the tuition for CU Boulder main campus courses.

  • Review and apply for COF. 
  • Your social security number or identification number is needed to connect COF to your student account. If you didn’t provide this number on your application, please call us at 303-492-5148 to add it to your file. 
  • When you enroll in courses, you will have the opportunity to AUTHORIZE the COF stipend. You must complete BOTH steps to receive your stipend.

COF Restrictions

The COF stipend is not applicable for courses in the following programs: 

  • CE Evening Credit
  • CE Online Credit
  • Applied Music
  • Individualized Instruction
  • Extraordinary 
  • International English Center 

The tuition rates for many of these programs are based on the tuition paid by Colorado residents after the COF stipend is applied.

Spring registration into Continuing Education courses opens on Monday, November 4. Spring registration into main campus courses opens on Monday, January 6.

Once we’ve received and processed your application, we will send you a Welcome Message email. The Welcome Message will guide you through online enrollment via Buff Portal, the CU online student portal.

You can add courses to a “shopping cart” as soon as you receive your Welcome Message.

If taking classes in person, take some time prior to the first day of class to familiarize yourself with the campus, including the UMC Student Center, the Norlin Library, and most importantly, the buildings on campus in which your classes will be held. See the Campus Map.

If you are waitlisted for a class, plan to attend starting on the first day. This way you will not miss any of the information, and you can talk to the instructor about your chances of getting in.

You will NOT receive a paper bill. Your bill will be available online in Buff Portal. This is also where you will manage your course schedule, check grades, etc.

If you will be receiving district assistance, it will be applied the day after the drop deadline for the course you’re enrolled in.

Questions about your bill? Contact the CE Accounting team at 303-492-2212 or cebursar@colorado.edu.