Department Goal:
Improve the College's work around serving youth throughout Northeast Ohio by providing systemic coordination of all early college, dual enrollment, career, and technical education; where possible, leverage resources and increase collaboration and partnership with K-12 schools, consortiums, and community-based organizations to maximize students' college access, career, and workforce readiness.
Educational Talent Search (ETS)
Created in 1965 as part of the Higher Education Act, Educational Talent Search (ETS) is a federally funded pre-college program offered at Tri-C since 1968. Its goal is to provide the skills and motivation necessary for students in grades six to 12 to complete a program of secondary education and enter and succeed in the postsecondary program of their choice. Participants receive a variety of free services and participate in scholastic, cultural and enrichment activities.
Program Services
Academic Services
- Academic advising
- ACT/SAT/PSAT test preparation
- Ohio state test preparation
- Study skills workshops
- Personal development
- Summer Enrichment Program
- Tutoring
- Mentoring
Career Information Services
- Career counseling, fairs and exploration
- College admissions assistance
- College fairs and tours
- Financial aid counseling and application assistance
- Scholarship information
Scholars also participate in cultural activities. ETS serves more than 1,300 students annually. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.
Visit the ETS web page or call 216-987-6310 to learn more.
High Tech Academy (HTA)
High Tech Academy (HTA) is an innovative dual enrollment program in which Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) students in grades 10 to 12 attend a half day of classes at their high school and a half day of college classes at Tri-C's Metropolitan Campus. HTA offers a rigorous curriculum that helps students develop academic, technical and leadership skills.
Students can choose classes from various HTA pathways:
- College Preparatory (Liberal Arts)
- Engineering Technology
- Information Technology
- Business Management
- Health Careers
- Creative Arts
Ultimately, the college-level classes count toward high school graduation requirements. This educational collaboration coordinates programming for more than 275 CMSD high school students annually. Set apart from traditional College Credit Plus, HTA offers many enrichment components to foster achievement and career exploration and features a required community service component. CMSD and Tri-C administrators oversee daily operations on campus. Interested students must complete the High Tech Academy application process to be accepted.
Founded in 2000, HTA received major support from National City and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Now, with generous and continuous support from PNC, HTA students are afforded unique opportunities and experiences with tuition costs paid on their behalf.
Upon high school graduation, HTA seniors can apply for the HTA Completion Scholarship, established for students who wish to earn an associate degree from Tri-C. Other students transfer to four-year colleges and universities or enter the workforce. More than 1,200 students have earned college credits through HTA, with more than 80 earning an associate degree at the same time as their high school diploma. Visit the HTA web page or call 216-987-3549 to learn more.
Upward Bound (UB)
Upward Bound (UB) is a year-round pre-college TRIO program for CMSD students attending John Hay, John Marshall, East Tech, Maple Heights and Glenville high schools. UB works in cooperation with schools, Tri-C and the community to help students graduate from high school and enter, succeed in and graduate from college.
UB provides:
- College visits
- Career and financial aid counseling
- Tutoring
- Field trips
- Preparation for OST, ACT and SAT Tests
Students also attend a six-week summer session, and graduating seniors participate in an eight-week bridge component. UB is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Visit the Upward Bound web page or call 216-987-4958 to learn more.
Upward Bound Math/Science (UBMS)
Upward Bound Math/Science (UBMS) is a pre-college TRIO program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. UBMS provides an academically enriching and rigorous year-round math and science curriculum to help participants succeed in high school and college. The program targets CMSD high school students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
Participants are recruited from the following schools:
- East Tech High School
- Garrett Morgan High School
- Lincoln-West High School
Participants receive academic support services, such as tutoring and ACT/SAT prep, throughout the academic year. Year-round academic planning and advising, hands-on project-based learning, exposure to STEM professionals, monthly educational workshops, technology training, financial literacy and scholarship assistance are provided, along with a six-week TRIO Summer STEM Academy. Participants may receive a monthly stipend upon completion of specific criteria. Visit tri-c.edu/ubms or call 216-987-4927 to learn more.
Ohio College Tech Prep (Tech Prep)
The Ohio College Tech Prep program is a seamless, non-duplicative, integrated pathway of education and experience that begins in the 11th grade and continues through college and beyond. The curriculum reflects real-world technical careers in high demand today and prepares students to be college- and career-ready. The Tri-C Tech Prep program connects high school and college education to high-skill and high-demand technical employment. Students are enrolled in the Tech Prep program through their high school district. See if you qualify for a Tech Prep Scholarship.
For additional information, please visit Tri-C Ohio College Tech Prep or call 216-987-4985.
Youth Technology Academy (YTA)
The Youth Technology Academy (YTA) is where your student will earn college credit in a STEM-based career path while still in high school. YTA is a STEM career exploration program designed to train high school students for the technical workforce. The program gives students the opportunity to design and build a robot, learn programming and coding with drones, and enroll in really exciting classes.
It also offers:
- College credit
- No cost for tuition or books
- Tutoring
- Robotics Team – VEX, FIRST, DRONES
- Travel opportunities through STEM competitions
- 24/7 RTA Pass each semester
- Working opportunities
- Industry mentor
For additional information, please visit the Youth Technology Academy web page or call 216-987-3368.
College Credit Plus (CCP)
College Credit Plus (CCP) allows eligible students in grades seven through 12 to earn high school and college credit at the same time.
Benefits include:
- The option to take courses at a Tri-C campus or the student's high school (if offered through your district)
- The ability to earn free college credit while completing high school requirements — a tremendous cost saving toward your college education.
- Courses are weighted the same as AP and IB courses.
- A large selection of available courses and areas of study, many guaranteed to transfer to any Ohio public institution
- Tuition and books covered at no cost to the student*
*Tuition for private school/homeschooled students is subject to available funding; books are not covered. More information is available on the Students and Parents channel and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) website.
New and continuing CCP students must discuss enrollment with their school guidance counselor and parents to determine if CCP is right for them. Check out the Ohio Department of Education's (ODE) CCP FAQ.
Private and public school students must submit a CCP Intent to Participate form to their high school. The deadline for private and homeschooled students to apply for state funding is determined at the state level. Check ODE's website for the most up-to-date information and instructions.
For additional catalog information, visit the College Credit Plus web page.
College Credit Plus Disclaimer: The subject matter of a course enrolled in the CCP program may include mature subject matter or materials, including those of a graphic, explicit, violent or sexual nature, that will not be modified based upon CCP enrollee participation, regardless of where course instruction occurs.
Other Early College Opportunities Initiatives
Pathways to Workforce (PTW)
Pathways to Workforce (PTW) provides intentional paths to high- or in-demand careers while supporting aspiring underrepresented and underserved students. The College Credit Plus (CCP) program is a front door for students' access to higher education. PTW differs from the standard CCP experience, which focuses simply on allowing students to earn college credits. PTW amplifies career exposure with embedded support, applied learning opportunities and supplemental instructional support. PTW seeks to cultivate talent, embracing the educational, cultural and economic needs of the communities where students/future talent reside. Through this waiver, students will have access to select pathway courses for industries such as engineering, manufacturing and information technology. The program administrator or dean sponsoring the pathway program will work with partnering schools to plan and customize course offerings supporting students' career interests and academic experiences. This role provides the strategic direction and oversight of the program. The program objectives and key results are established year-to-year with the engagement of industry stakeholders and cohort institutions.
For more information, contact the Early College Opportunities Department by reaching out to Katiria Cardona via email at katiria.cardona@tri-c.edu or by calling 216-987-4904.