Access USA is for students of high school age from those in Grade 9 to recent graduates.  Students near the end of high school, or who have recently graduated, in under 12 months can complete a full year of college leading to automatic admission with sophomore status at member universities and colleges. Highly able students as young as Grade 9 can spread the program over four years and finish high school with automatic university admission and sophomore status. Students may also transfer credits to other universities.

Classes will be conducted using a combination of asynchronous support materials and synchronous video conferencing seminars (e.g. Zoom) following established models that have proven successful for over 20 years in delivering high quality education to students around the world.

Classes will be conducted using a combination of asynchronous support materials and synchronous video conferencing seminars (e.g. Zoom) following established models that have proven successful for over 20 years in delivering high quality education to students around the world.

The goal of these classes is to provide students with rigorous online versions of what they would have received in person so that success in these classes provides a meaningful indicator of their true capability to do college work and to be successful in our universities.

Students will receive credit for each class they take from the university or college that provides the class.  Students will receive transcripts from those universities and colleges showing the courses completed, the credits earned, and the grades received.  

Class times are dependent on where students live. Classes typically occur during both the early morning and the mid-to-late evenings. Most classes will meet as real-time video conference seminars two days a week, with additional office hours available on other days. Typical class sessions are 90 minutes to 2 hours.

• Students may enter at any point in high school or in the year after they graduate.
• Students will be able to take up to 30 credits of coursework during their term of enrollment.
• Students completing at least 24 credits will be guaranteed admission to at least one of the Access USA member colleges or universities.
• Participation in the program ends upon completion of 30 credits, matriculation at any college or university, or after one year has passed since the completion of high school.

All classes, including lectures and seminars, are recorded and the recordings are available to enrolled students during the term.

Students are expected to have standard modern computers capable of using standard office productivity suites and video conferencing.  Students are required to have high-speed internet.

The courses offered are common across the different universities and colleges and that either meet general education requirements or introductory requirements in popular major fields of study.  A full list is provided elsewhere.

For classes that require a laboratory component, students will use a combination of online simulations and physical labs offered on our university and college campuses during the summer session.

You will be able to visit campuses during the official summer programs.  Students wishing to visit campuses individually may do so.  Program staff members are available to help arrange the details of such visits.

Exam mechanics are under the discretion of the instructor.  Students may be required to use in-person or online proctoring services or to take exams live during class time.  

Access USA students will receive comprehensive academic counseling and student support through academic advisors and success coaches.

Depending on your application, you may or may not be asked to take a standardized test. While not required, Access USA takes a “documentary evidence” approach to admissions. We will review all material submitted and will factor it into the admissions decision. We do not require standardized tests for admission, but may request them if the admissions decision needs further evidence.

The tuition for Access USA includes all fees related to academic programs, academic advising, and success coaching.  Tuition does not include costs for textbooks, any required course-specific software, and any costs associated with travel and residential expenses.  

Online summer course expenses are included in the base tuition.  Residential summer course instruction is included in the base tuition.  Expenses associated with travel, room, and board, as well as extra-curricular activities, are not included.

After students are admitted to Access USA they will complete an enrollment contract, and receive any scholarships or grants they have been awarded through their affiliations. The balance is payable upon commencement of the program. Students will receive an invoice from Access USA with payment details.  EMI arrangements are available. 

Because the courses students take are real courses, offered by real faculty, for real credit, on real transcripts, success in these courses is equivalent to success on a university or college campus.  Students who complete their year of course work with a 2.5 GPA or better, will have successfully completed the program, and will be allowed to continue into their sophomore year.  This is the same criteria used at the universities and colleges for students completing their freshman year on campus.  

Students can transfer credit from to any college.  Because the courses are taught by real faculty for real credit from leading universities and colleges, they meet the gold standard of credit transferability.  

Colleges are increasingly disregarding Advanced Placement courses as insufficiently rigorous.  While they may be good enough for placement, such courses often do not earn credit towards graduation or major courses of study.  Transfer credits from leading Liberal Arts Colleges do not have this problem.