Early College

At Early College, students benefit from a personalized learning environment that fosters the development of critical thinking skills within an innovative curriculum that promotes excellence in the fields of math, English, social studies and science. Students will spend their entire school day at Montcalm Community College for grades 11-13.

The Early College application cycle for the 25-26 academic year is open now and applications are due April 18, 2025.

Please visit one of our participating high schools for an application OR contact Shannon Tripp. Email Shannon at earlycollege@montcalm.edu or call 616-225-5706.

participating high schools

• Belding Area Schools
• Carson City – Crystal Area Schools
• Central Montcalm Public Schools
• Greenville Public Schools
• Lakeview Community Schools
• Montabella Community Schools
• Saranac Community Schools
• Tri County Area Schools
• Vestaburg Community School

benefits

• Earn a high school diploma and up to 60 college credits, tuition free.
• Reduce time in college by one year if an associate degree is earned.
• Successfully transition to a college environment.
• Potential savings of $25,000 to $50,000 (if a student planned to attend a university and live on campus.)

eligibility

To be eligible to enroll in the 2025-2026 academic year, the following criteria must be met:

• Students who, as of Nov. 2025, are 10th grade high school students (home school, parochial, private or charter school students are also eligible.)
• Students must be residents of the State of Michigan.
• Students must be at least 14 years of age by Aug. 1, 2025.
• You cannot be in the United States under a J-1 Visa.

parent information nights

Carson City-Crystal: January 27 at 5:30 p.m.

Central Montcalm: February 4 at 5:30 p.m.

Greenville: January 29 at 6 p.m.

Lakeview: January 23 at 5 p.m.

Montabella: February 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Vestaburg: January 28 at 6 p.m.

Learn more

Whether your school district participates in the program or not, you may be eligible to become an Early College student. Learn more about this unique learning opportunity.