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MSU Denver's Front Runners Program
High school students, get a jump-start on accumulating college credits by taking college courses while still in high school, thereby saving you money and time. MSU Denver’s Front Runners Program allows you to run your own race while setting your own pace. Metropolitan State University of Denver offers concurrent enrollment courses at high schools across the state, on the Auraria Campus in Downtown Denver, and at our South Campus at I-25 and Orchard Road. Concurrent and dual enrollment partnerships successfully transition students from high school to college.
Explore our four roadways that were established for bridging the gap between high school and college.
1) Front Road 2) Main Road 3) ASCENT Drive 4) Student Education Enrichment (SEE Road)
Which option fits you best?
Front Road (HS Roadrunner)
I want to take college classes at my high school.
Front Runners provides high school students the opportunity to take college credit bearing courses taught by college approved high school teachers or MSU Denver’s affiliate faculty. It is a low-cost and accessible model for bringing accelerated courses to students in urban, suburban, and rural high schools. Students gain exposure to the academic challenges of college while in their supportive high school environment, earning academic college credit at the time that they successfully pass the course.
Some courses offered in high schools through Front Runners include:
- Advanced Conversational Spanish
- Art 3D Studio Foundations
- Aviation Fundamentals (offered at South Campus)
- Chicana/o Studies
- College Algebra
- English Composing Arguments
- English Research and Argument Writing
- Food Fundamentals
- Food Preparation and Science
- Introduction to Engineering
- Manufacturing Processing
- Mathematical Modes of Thought
- Spanish Grammar and Composition I & II
- Women of Color
Our Front Runners Concurrent Enrollment Program at Metropolitan State University of Denver is proud to mention our robust partnerships with statewide high schools such as; Adams-12, Adams City-14, Abraham Lincoln High School, Bear Creek, Chatfield, Cherry Creek HS, Columbine, Englewood, Estes Park, Golden, Grandview, John F. Kennedy, North High School, South High School, Thomas Jefferson, Thunder Ridge, Gateway, Manual, Martin Luther King, Mountain View, Northridge-Greeley, Smoky Hill, St. Vrain HS, Summit, Youth Entity, Wasson, Westminster, and Woodland Park.
If your high school does not offer a specific course for concurrent enrollment, ask your counselor and/or teacher to consider collaborating with MSU Denver Front Runners.
Program Requirements
- Courses must be arranged and approved by the high school and coordinator of concurrent enrollment at MSU Denver prior to enrolling.
- Students must be selected for participation, have satisfied the minimum course prerequisites and all required assessments before enrollment.
- For high school students enrolled in 9 - 12th grade in a school district with an authorized agreement – program only available Fall and Spring.
- Student must demonstrate academic preparedness and meet high school standards to begin taking college classes early at their high school.
- Front Runners Paper Application required (see button below).
- Complete application and submit to your high school teacher, counselor, CE contact or email to: Frontrunners@msudenver.edu
- Do not complete online application for this (HS Roadrunner) option – only paper accepted.
- Registration is done by the Front Runners Office in consultation with high school teachers and counselors.
For additional questions contact: FrontRunners@msudenver.edu or call 303.721.1313
Main Road
I want to take college classes at MSU Denver main campus, and I think my high school district will pay for them.
MSU Denver is known for its innovative and unique course options, which are also available to high school students through concurrent enrollment. We open many courses to high school students who are interested in learning on one of our campuses and/or who do not have the option to complete college courses at their high school. We welcome high school students under 21 years of age who demonstrate academic preparedness in 9th – 12th grade. Through this pathway, the student's school district will pay a portion of the student's tuition up to the current community college rate and the remainder will be the responsibility of the student and/or guardian. Some districts pay all or a portion of fees and books, check with your school district for information.
Students in 12th grade may enroll in college basic skills courses, if approved by their school district. High school students retained for instructional purposes beyond the 12th grade may not enroll in more than nine college credits concurrently during the following year. To enroll in a course at an eligible postsecondary institution, a student must have completed the minimum course prerequisites and all required assessments.
If there is a class that interests you and you’d like to enroll, please download, complete and submit the online application and CE Form.
Program Requirements
- Your school district must have an agreement with MSU Denver in order to participate in this program. Please contact your high school counselor, concurrent enrollment district contact, or MSU Denver Front Runners Program with any questions.
- Students, who are enrolled in the 9th - 12th grade in a participating school district, and demonstrate academic preparedness, are eligible for the concurrent enrollment program on main campus.
- Student must demonstrate academic preparedness and meet high school standards to begin taking college classes early on main campus.
- Student must have satisfied the minimum course prerequisites and all required assessments before enrolling.
- Admissions Application (see button below): You can obtain an application from your high school counselor or by going to msudenver.edu/admissions and using the Online Application or Printable Application. (To waive $25 application fee enter Frontrunners after entering submit)
- Complete the Concurrent Enrollment Form (see button below): This form must be submitted for every semester the student intends to be concurrently enrolled. Email this form to admissions@msudenver.edu
- Apply for and authorize Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF): All post-secondary students must fill out and submit the College Opportunity Fund application online at COF.college-assist.org.
- After applying for COF online, the student must authorize MSU Denver to use the stipend on the students behalf. The COF Stipend authorization form is located at: msudenver.edu/cof
- COF covers a portion of the tuition; if the student elects not to complete the required COF paperwork, he or she will be charged the additional amount.
- Submit official High School and/or college Transcripts, AP, CLEP and ACT or ACCUPLACER Scores.
- Register for classes: For advising and course selection, please contact Patrick Wise at pwise1@msudenver.edu
For additional questions contact Frontrunners@msudenver.edu or call 303.721.1313
ASCENT Drive
I am a senior in high school with 12 college credits already. I want to take advantage of the State’s 5th-year ASCENT Program and have my district pay for an additional year of college classes.
This ASCENT pathway is for high school students who have fulfilled all local school district graduation requirements at the end of four years and who have completed, or are scheduled to complete, 12 credit hours of college coursework. Students must be college ready in accordance with the degree pathway in which they enroll. Any remedial coursework previously taken does not qualify as a part of the 12 credit hours of required college coursework. The school district pays for tuition (excluding books and fees) up to the community college tuition rate and the remainder is billed to the student.
*Your school district must have an agreement with MSU Denver in order for you to participate in this program. Please contact your high school counselor or MSU Denver admissions counselor with any questions.
*Students participating in the ASCENT Program are not eligible for financial aid.
If you are interested in the ASCENT program, please download, complete and submit the following documents to admissions@msudenver.edu
Program Requirements
- Student must have satisfied the minimum 12 credit hours of concurrent courses, prerequisites, and all required assessments before enrollment.
- Student must be in 12th grade and selected for participation.
- Student has never participated in the ASCENT program in previous years.
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Admissions Application (see button below): You can obtain an application from your high school counselor or by going to msudenver.edu/admissions and using the Online Application or Printable Application. (To waive $25 application fee enter Frontrunners after entering submit)
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Complete the ASCENT Form (see button below): Application is valid for both Fall and Spring semesters. Email the ASCENT form to admissions@msudenver.edu
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Apply for and authorize Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF): All post-secondary students must fill out and submit the College Opportunity Fund application online at COF.college-assist.org
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COF covers a portion of the tuition; if the student elects not to complete the required COF paperwork, he or she will be charged the additional amount.
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After applying for COF online, the student must authorize MSU Denver to use the stipend on the students behalf. The COF Stipend authorization form is located at: msudenver.edu/cof
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Submit official High school and/or College Transcripts also include all AP, CLEP, ACT or ACCUPLACER Scores to the office of Admissions at MSU Denver.
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Register for Student Orientation and Advising (SOAR) and then reach out to our advising team. For advising and course selection, please contact Brandy Swanson at bswans10@msudenver.edu.
*Students participating in the ASCENT Program are not eligible for financial aid. -
The school district will hold the student's high school diploma and not count him or her as a graduate until he or she has completed the ASCENT Program.
Student Enrichment Education (S.E.E.) Road
I want to take college classes at MSU Denver and my high school or district will not pay for them.
This Student Enrichment Education pathway is designed for high school students 16-years-old or older, allowing them to enroll in college courses at MSU Denver as special non-degree-seeking students. High school students are eligible to take classes year-round—fall, spring and summer. There are no limits on the type of courses other than academic prerequisites and assessment test requirements. These enrollments are not state-funded nor is the tuition paid by the school district. Home schooled or private school students may participate in this pathway.
The purpose of this option is to provide academic challenges and provide affordable access to academic courses that may not be available at a local high school to meet high school graduation requirements.
If you are interested in the Student Education Enrichment program, please download, complete and submit the following to admissions@msudenver.edu to apply.
Program Requirements
- Available to students attending charter schools, private schools and all other schools that MSU Denver does not currently have an active cooperative agreement in place.
- Student must demonstrate academic preparedness and meet high school standards to begin taking college courses early on main campus.
- Student must have satisfied the minimum course prerequisites and all required assessments before enrolling.
- Students are required to submit information and register for classes in the same way regularly admitted students do.
- Admissions Application (see button below): You can obtain an application from your high school counselor or by going to msudenver.edu/admissions and using the Online Application or Printable Application. (To waive $25 application fee enter Frontrunners after entering submit)
- Complete the Student Education Enrichment (SEE) Agreement Form (see button below): This form must be submitted for every semester the student intends to be concurrently enrolled. Email this form to admissions@msudenver.edu
- Apply for and authorize Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF). All post-secondary students are eligible for the College Opportunity Fund application online at COF.college-assist.org
- After applying for COF online, the student must authorize MSU Denver to use the stipend on the students behalf. The COF Stipend authorization form is located at: msudenver.edu/cof
- If the student authorizes use of his or her COF stipend for eligible credits to reduce the cost of the class (for this and future semesters), the credits will be deducted from the student's lifetime COF account.
- Submit official High School and/or College Transcripts, AP, CLEP and ACT or ACCUPLACER Scores.
- Register for Student Orientation and Advising (SOAR) and then reach out to our advising team. For advising and course selection, please contact Patrick Wise at pwise1@msudenver.edu.
*Students participating in any of these programs are not eligible for financial aid.
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5660 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite 100
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Phone: 303-721-1313
Fax: 303-220-1787
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