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Admission Pathways

From Start to Finish: How to Earn College Credit or a Degree with UW Online Learning Pathways

The Universities of Wisconsin offer a variety of flexible, online admission pathways to help you meet your educational goals, whether you’re a high school student getting a head start by completing college-level courses through the Early College Credit Program (ECCP) or an adult returning to school later.

  • 100% online—no campus visits or set class times
  • Taught by expert UW faculty
  • Personalized student coaching and support
  • Transferable credits that count toward your degree
  • Resume-ready credentials at every milestone
  • Accredited programs

During each step along the pathway, you’re earning college credits and when you reach certain milestones, you’ll earn a credential that you can list on your resume. You’ll have the flexibility to take as many or as few courses as you like, to take a break if you need it, or to choose a faster path to graduation.

Where you start on the admission pathway depends on where you are now: a high school student in ECCP or planning for college, an adult who is new to college, or a returning adult who has some college credit but has not earned a degree.

If you are a high school student (in ECCP)

your first step on the pathway is:

  1. The Early College Credit Program (ECCP)

    Qualified high school students can enroll in online general education courses through the UW Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) program and earn college credit. One of the most popular ways for high school students to earn college credit is through the Early College Credit Program (ECCP).

Why earn ECCP credit through the UW AAS?

UW AAS courses are completed entirely online, making it more convenient for students to earn college credit while still in high school. Tuition is shared between the higher education institution, the school district or private school, the state, and in some cases the student’s family, which can help make college more affordable and save you money.

How do I get started earning college credit through the UW AAS?

To get started, talk to your high school counselor to learn more about ECCP and determine if the UW AAS is a good fit. You can review the UW AAS course schedule, select a class, and request information. Your counselor can help you complete the ECCP participation form that you’ll need to submit to your school officials by the deadline (see below).

What are the application deadlines for ECCP?
Semester Deadline
Fall courses March 1
Spring courses October 1
Summer courses February 1
How do I apply to the UW AAS and enroll in my class?

You’ll need to contact the admissions office at the home campus where you’d like to take classes. The UW AAS campus partners are: UW-Eau Claire, UW-Parkside, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Whitewater. Or visit Go Wisconsin for more information.

Are there other options in addition to the UW AAS?

UW Independent Learning (IL) offers additional courses in a self-paced format that are also eligible for college credit through ECCP. If ECCP is not an option, you may take courses in the online UW AAS or IL programs while in high school as a full tuition special student.

Additional Resources for ECCP

You can learn more about ECCP and how to apply for courses at a UW institution at Go Wisconsin or visit ECCP FAQs.

If you are a

  • high school student planning for college
  • an adult student who is new to college
  • an adult student who has some college credit but has not earned an Associate degree

  1. your first step on the pathway is …

    Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS)

    In the UW Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS), you’ll earn transferable college credits while completing general education requirements (GER) and prerequisite courses for a bachelor’s degree. If you have some college credit but haven’t earned a degree, an AAS can help you pick up where you left off by transferring prior college coursework and allowing you to complete the remaining courses you need to earn an AAS degree.

  2. After earning your Associate of Arts and Sciences, your next step on the pathway is …

    Choosing a Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program

    The Universities of Wisconsin offer online bachelor’s completion degrees across a range of disciplines, including business, healthcare, management, sustainability, and technology. Starting with the UW AAS offers an admission pathway to a bachelor’s degree, so that you can move forward in your career with confidence.

Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs

FAQs

Your choice of home campus is a matter of personal preference. Our campus partners share equal responsibility in the program, and you will take courses taught by faculty from all program partner campuses. Your educational experience will be the same regardless of your campus choice, and your degree and transcripts will be identical to those earned by on-campus students. Learn more about our campus partners and choosing a home campus.

Whether you stay with the same home campus from start to finish depends on whether your home campus is a partner in the programs you choose to enroll in. Not all UW AAS campus partners are partners in every bachelor’s degree completion program. Likewise, some degree completion program campus partners are not partners in the UW AAS. An enrollment adviser can assist you with campus options and the best pathway for your situation.

Beginning August 1, 2025, for first-year and transfer applicants for the Fall 2026 term, UW-Eau Claire will charge a $25 application fee for every application submitted. For the other UW universities, there is no application fee.

How you apply may vary depending on whether you are a first-year or transfer applicant, whether your AAS home campus is also a partner in the bachelor’s degree completion program, and other factors. An enrollment adviser can assist you with your application.

All bachelor’s degree completion programs require a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 earned in AAS courses.

Yes. For most bachelor’s programs you can start taking bachelor’s-level courses after you have completed 45-54 credits (varies by program) in the AAS and applicable prerequisite courses.

Have questions? Contact an enrollment adviser at:

Business Hours:

Enrollment advisers are available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST, or by appointment.