New Student Running Start (RS) Admissions Process

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Running Start Student and Parent Information Session Schedule and Sign-Up

To apply for the RS program follow the steps below:

Use the Academic Calendar to view the suggested admission deadlines.

For Fall 2024 Quarter new students: Complete the state college application and the Running Start Intent and submit both only one time. You should receive your fall quarter RS New Student Admissions email from our office within 10 business days. If you do not receive the RS Admissions email in 10 business days please contact our office at runningstartnewstudent@bellevuecollege.edu.

Note Fall Quarter Running Start New Students: For the best class selection as a new Running Start Student, students that complete the state college application, the RS intent form and ALL of the RS admissions steps, before their high school closes for summer break, will have the BEST SELECTION OF CLASSES FOR THE FALL QUARTER!

ALL new RS students must complete ALL of the Running Start Program Admissions Steps in order to participate.

Please review our Bellevue College RS Program Frequently Asked Questions & Answers for general, troubleshooting, and fee waiver questions.


If you do not see your question/answer in the Bellevue College RS Program Frequently Asked Questions & Answers, please email runningstartnewstudent@bellevuecollege.edu.

  • On the Admissions Application when prompted, select “First Yearnot “Running Start”. 
  • Do not select “Transitional Studies”.
  • Do not use your High School email for the application.
  • Use this link to Start Your Application .
  • Note: You apply only once – current students do not need to reapply. 
  • After the college processes your application, you will receive an email with your ctcLink student ID number and the next steps needed before you can enroll for classes. This includes:

Use this link for Step-by-Step Help with the Application process.

This step alerts the RS Office of your intent to join the RS program. This important step ensures our staff connects your admission application to your RS account. Use the button below to start the form.

All RS students must complete the Intent Form. Private and homeschool students must also take additional steps. See below.
*ATTENTION: It can take up to 5 business days for our office to process the form.

Use this Button to Access the RS Intent Form

  • RS rules require that you enroll as a Non-Attending student at the high school in your service area or your school district office. You must call your local high school to determine how you enroll – it can vary by school district.
  • At the end of each quarter the college sends your grades only to the high school or district office where your enrollment is documented. If you wish for your private high school to receive your grades, you must ask the college to send an official transcript to you or your high school. There is a cost connected to this process.

Low-income students may request a fee waiver if they meet certain conditions and/or provide supporting documentation.

You can request the fee waiver at the time you submit your Enrollment Verification Form (see step four below) when you complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Status section on the EVF. Our office informs you by email if we need additional documentation.

After you submit the RS Intent Form and the General Admission application, the RS Office sends you an email from our Running Start New Student email address. Check your junk mail or spam folder to make sure you do not miss it.

Allow ten business days for our office to send you this email and to process your forms after you complete both steps one and two.

You must complete all the steps listed in the email before you can enroll for classes.

  • Your high school and the college use this form to track the number of credits you take.
    • Without this form the college charges you the full rate of tuition and fees.
    • We cannot count you as a RS student. 
  • Use this link to download the EVF in PDF Format.
    • Meet with your high school counselor to complete the EVF each quarter.
    • Make sure you complete all parts of the form, including all required signatures.
      • Leave the RS advisor signature blank
  • Submit the form online using the link below. This process requires you to login with your NetID, and upload your EVF in PDF format.
    *ATTENTION: It can take up to 5 business days for our office to process the form.
Use this Button to Access the Site to Upload the EVF to the RS Office

Our New Student Orientation – High School Programs (NSO-HSP) is designed to help students achieve success at Bellevue College. This is a one-time, mandatory requirement to be completed before a student can enroll/register for classes.

There is a block/hold on the students account which prevents enrolling/registering for classes until the
NSO-HSP step is completed. The Running Start Office will review the students completed NSO-HSP within a week’s time after completion and then remove the block/hold. 

New students will need to self-register and complete the NSO-HSP. Please access this link to register for the NSO-HSP https://bc.instructure.com/enroll/YXPGH9.

The NSO-HSP course modules will appear in your CANVAS classroom shell once registered. If you need help on how to access CANVAS, please look to https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/canvas/.

Congratulations! You are now a Running Start Student.

  • You must submit a completed and signed RS Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) each quarter, RS Enrollment Verification Form.
  • Check your Bellevue College email account often (this is not your Canvas email). Your Bellevue College email account is the way we communicate all information to you.
  • Remember, RS does not pay for classes below the 100 level (i.e., Math 099), or classes that exceed the number of allowed credits on your EVF.
  • Fee Waiver: A Running Start student is considered low income and eligible for a fee waiver upon proof that the student meets federal eligibility requirements for Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (FRPL), verification on the quarter RS Enrollment Verification Form (EVF).
    Acceptable documentation of low-income status may also include:
    • Student has been deemed eligible for free/reduced lunches in the past five years
    • Family income is equal to or less than 50 percent of the state median
    • Family income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level
    • Student receiving any state or federal assistance funds
    • Youth in Care
      Consumable supplies, textbooks, and other materials retained by the student are not within the definition of fees and therefore not subject to the mandatory low-income waiver provisions. Running Start Fee Waiver Form :: Running Start Forms (bellevuecollege.edu)
  • Use this link for step-by-step instructions on How to Enroll for Classes
  • After you enroll for classes, remember you must pay fees connected to the classes you take.
    • You must pay these fees by deadline for when tuition is due
    • Check the Academic Calendar for deadlines to pay tuition and fees
    • Some students may qualify for a fee waiver. See the fee waiver information above or in Step Two

First Year Seminar (FYS) Transfer Degree Graduation Requirement

Advising Note: FYS is a graduation requirement for students who plan to complete an AAS-DTA (Associate in Arts and Sciences – Direct Transfer Agreement), and the transfer Associate Science Track I and II degrees.
The college expects students to complete FYS in the first two quarters of their enrollment.

Please note that in addition to applying to the RS program and enrolling for classes, you must also understand other college and RS program requirements. Check the RS General Rules and Information for additional information.

We look forward to working with you as a student in the Running Start Program!

Last Updated March 25, 2024