Additional Details

Students apply to the colleges and universities of their choice as first-time freshmen, but with advanced standing due to the college credits they earned. This provides students with two key benefits: 1) they have the opportunity to improve their High School GPAs and/or complete any unmet A-G requirements by taking college courses, and 2) they have the opportunity to transfer up to 30 credits of college coursework (10 classes) to the college in which they transfer. Students can transfer either to a two- or four-year college.

Honors Pathway continues to support students with counseling and advising and career support after they transfer – all the way until they graduate college and start a career.

Many students choose a first year at MicroCollege over a first year at community college because they want smaller class sizes, dedicated coaching, and more time to complete classes to smooth their transition to college and ensure they earn the best grades possible. Additionally, MicroCollege is offered at NO cost, including all tuition, fees, books, and a laptop computer that students can keep when they complete the program.

Because MicroCollege is only available after a student’s senior year, students cannot go to a community college and then come back to MicroCollege. However, students may choose to attend a community college after their year at MicroCollege.

		CA Community Colleges
No Tuition
No Tuition Community Colleges are tuition-free for most students. MicroCollege is tuition-free for all students.
No Fees
No Fees Most community colleges charge fees for enrollment and student activities. MicroCollege never charges students fees.
Books, Supplies, and Laptop Provided at No Cost
Books, Supplies, and Laptop Provided at No Cost At most Community Colleges, students are responsible for the cost of books, supplies, and a computer. These costs can be over $1,500 per year. At MicroCollege, books, supplies, and a laptop computer are included – and students can keep their laptop computer when they complete the program.
Small Class Sizes and Dedicated Coaching
Small Class Sizes and Dedicated Coaching At MicroCollege, students complete classes in cohorts of around 30 students. Each cohort has a dedicated counselor and two academic coaches, for a staff student student ratio of 10:1.
Extend Students Financial Aid
Extend Students Financial Aid When students enroll in most colleges, they immediately begin using their limited financial aid. At MicroCollege, students can complete up to a year of college classes at no cost – and without using their financial aid. After completing MicroCollege, students will have as few as 3 years of classes remaining, and all of their financial aid available to them to help cover the cost of earning a degree!
School Can Directly Engage with Parents and Guardians (FERPA)
School Can Directly Engage with Parents and Guardians As a part of enrolling at MicroCollege, staff can directly engage with parents and guardians to discuss student academic performance and needs. Most colleges require additional forms and permissions before they will release students’ information to parents.
Master Learning Framework (A, B, C and Not Yet)
Master Learning Framework (A, B, C and Not Yet) Community Colleges record all course attempts made by students, and assign punitive grades such as D’s, F’s, and W’s on students’ permanent records. If students earn too many D’s, F’s, or W’s, they can lose access to financial aid! MicroCollege does not record grades of D’s, F’s, or W’s. Rather than failing students if they struggle in class, students can get more time, more work, and more support to meet the course objectives.

Faculty who teach at MicroCollege serve under faculty appointment at a partner university. Faculty must have earned a Master’s or Doctoral degree in the subject matter of their class.

Most faculty who teach at MicroCollege also teach the same classes at nearby colleges and universities. In fact, it’s possible that MicroCollege students will take classes with their same MicroCollege faculty when they arrive on their next college campus!

No. MicroCollege is a non-sectarian program, meaning that it is not religious. While some of our partner universities may have religious affiliations, MicroCollege does not have such affiliations.

Yes! Credits are issued by a regionally-accredited, non-profit partner university. MicroCollege only offers the general education courses required by CSU and UC campuses. See the transfer
guide below!

If students withdraw from MicroCollege, they will receive their HS diploma – as long as they met their minimum high school graduation requirements. They also receive any college credits they earned up to that point. There is never any charge for the program!

MicroCollege is funded by local school districts. Districts receive funding from the state for their students, including those participating in MicroCollege. There is no cost to students or families to participate.