Early College Academy

�þ��Ƶ Regionals is committed to increasing opportunities for �þ��Ƶs to earn a degree, gain a career, and enjoy all the benefits of a college education. The Early College Academy will open doors for �þ��Ƶs right here in our region. Utilizing the statewide College Credit Plus program �þ��Ƶs can earn a �þ��Ƶ associate degree at no cost.

About the Academy

Local area high schools will identify and select a cohort of incoming juniors for the Academy. These �þ��Ƶs will enroll in a minimum of 15 credit hours (per semester) for four semesters. The high school provides transportation and all of the associated fees for Academy participants such as tuition and books will be covered by the program. “The �þ��Ƶ Early College Academy (ECA) is not an early college high school program approved by the Chancellor of Higher Education and the Director of Education and Workforce as required by Ohio law. Students enrolled in �þ��Ƶʼs ECA will receive high school and college credit under the College Credit Plus program only.”

Students walking through the quad on the Middletown campus.

What are the benefits?

The Early College Academy allows �þ��Ƶs to graduate with a minimum of 62 college credit hours earning an Associate in Arts in General Studies with only two years remaining to complete a bachelor’s degree at �þ��Ƶ.

Two years of free college

Students will graduate with both their high school diploma and a �þ��Ƶ associate degree.

Student Involvement

Students will still be able to participate in co/extracurricular activities at their high school. A special set of activities will also be created specifically for these �þ��Ƶs at �þ��Ƶ Regionals.

Academic Support

Each �þ��Ƶ will be assigned an academic advisor. �þ��Ƶ Regionals will also provide individualized tutoring available through the Tutoring and Learning Center.

Participating in the Academy

Students in this program will make a strong impact in their community and beyond to engage, experience, and lead. Using a rubric model, �þ��Ƶs will be evaluated and selected by their high school using the following scoring criteria:

3.0 unweighted GPA

Attendance

Behavior

Co/extracurricular activities

Priority is given to first-generation college �þ��Ƶs

My critical thinking and my writing skills have improved dramatically since being here. I improved in ways I never thought I would.

Alex Marcum

2025 ECA Graduate, Franklin High School

The ECA program has been an invaluable learning opportunity for my daughter. It has taught her discipline and effective time management as she juggles not only college level courses, but a part time job as well. The program has afforded her the ability to get first hand insight and experience of what college life is like.

Ashley Moore

ECA Parent

I wanted more of an academic challenge and a more mature environment. I was glad to be on a college campus.

Abigail Evans

2025 ECA Graduate, Winton Woods High School

It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’m halfway there.

Kaydence Young

2025 ECA Graduate, Middletown High School

BE THE CHANGE!

Currently, out of 100 high school �þ��Ƶs, only 16 will graduate college*. Early College Academy can be the change to increase this percentage!

College graduates earn more, live longer, and have better life outcomes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people without degrees were three times more likely to have lost their jobs than people with degrees.

*Hamilton and Middletown Ohio regions, US Census Bureau 2019