Home | Commonwealth Collegiate Academy

About the Commonwealth Collegiate Academy

The Commonwealth Collegiate Academy, or CCA, provides students from eligible high schools the opportunity to take UMass courses taught by UMass faculty in partnership with their high school teachers. Taken as part of a student’s regular high school day, these early college courses fulfill college and high school requirements, saving students time and money while providing access to courses and content that may otherwise not have been available to them.

a group of CCA students on a tour of UMass Dartmouth

Students can earn up to 30 college credits

Decreases the cost of college by 25% (one full year of education)

Courses count for both high school and college

A group of CCA students sitting on the steps at UMass Lowell

Taught by UMass professors

Students gain insight into college expectations

Students are better prepared for learning at the college level

a group of cca students touring UMass Lowell

Courses delivered both remotely and in-person

Classes run during the regular school day

Scheduled for the convenience of high school students and teachers

The CCA Difference

Flexible & Accessible Learning
Courses are taught remotely or in a flexible, hybrid modality. The CCA program is designed to break down socioeconomic and geographic barriers to Early College for the benefit of students.
Dedicated Faculty & Teacher Support
Every course has a dedicated university professor and partner teacher from the student’s high school that work together throughout the semester – supporting and each student success in CCA courses.
Gain College Experience
CCA teaches students what to expect in college, both inside and outside the classroom by providing students with periodic visits to UMass campuses and an optional summer program to further enrich their experience.
Experience Career Pathways
CCA offers Early College pathways in a wide breadth of academic content, including Business, Engineering, Education, the Arts, Health, and other STEM and Liberal Arts fields.

Learn more about the CCA | Frequently Asked Questions

Explore High School Partners and Pathways

Use the filters below to see which pathways are available at which high schools. Filter by UMass Campus or Pathway for best results.

"I am in love with this program. It is transformative for the students. It's not just their mastery of the content they learn in the courses, but how they develop personal skills, self-advocacy, and their sense of responsibility and maturity."

Kate Copans

Director, Commonwealth Collegiate Academy

"My typical day with dual enrollment courses integrated into them is pretty much the same as how it was without them because everyone works to make these classes fit well into my schedule. It doesn't interfere with anything."

Mamady Camara

Student, Greater Lowell Technical High School

"As a parent with a child in college myself, I know being able to take advantage of these opportunities while the kids are still in high school is just phenomenal. I was a first-gen student myself. I wish I had this type of opportunity when I was in high school."

Francine Coston

Associate Director, Early College Initiatives

"My proudest memory is when we finished that summer program; we had a project to create this this essay about social issues, and I had never written something as detailed as that. And I felt like it was like my masterpiece of writing."

Sneyker Madrano

Student, Greater Lowell Technical High School

"Don't be afraid to put applications in, whether it be to UMass Lowell or other schools, because not every school is the right fit for every person. And work with your teachers and your guidance counselors to make sure you're getting paperwork in on time."

Mike Stack

Co-Teacher, CCA Program

"Students who participate in early college are more likely than their peers to attend college, to complete their degree, and to realize an increase in their lifetime earning potential."

Marty Meehan

President, University of Massachusetts

"I would certainly recommend this early college program. It's just a huge opportunity. I mean, not only do you save a lot of money, but you also get to experience what it's like being a college student"

David Barbosa

Student, Greater Lowell Technical High School

"I’m guilty of procrastination and one skill that the early college program helped me fine tune is time management. I learned how to use a calendar and to plan my study time. CCA taught me how to pace myself."

Alexa Palladino

Student, Greater Lowell Technical High School

"I'm a first-generation college student. The world is a wonderful, amazing place and there's so much of it that we don't understand. What college does for you is it allows you to develop your perspective and really learn about the world around you."

Lori Weeden

Professor, UMass Lowell

Pilot Program

A pilot CCA program began in September 2022 with seven high schools partnering with UMass Dartmouth or UMass Lowell to offer UMass courses to students during their high school day. Two years later, the CCA program has expanded and now offers courses at 17 high school across the state, including 5 high schools in the UMass Amherst region. UMass Boston has launched their own Early College Program in partnership with Boston Public Schools. To learn more about their program, you can contact earlycollege@umb.edu or contact the Associate Director of Early College and New Skills Boston, Daniel Doherty, directly at daniel.doherty@umb.edu.

The following Massachusetts high schools will offer CCA courses this fall: