How It Works

At Prep One Collegiate Academy, students don’t just complete high school—they get a head start on college by earning real, transferable credits. Our process makes early college simple, structured, and stress-free.

Step 1: Enroll in Prep One

  • Students (ages 13+) begin their high school journey with Prep One’s dual credit pathway.

  • Each student’s courses are carefully mapped to both high school graduation requirements and college-level ACE-recognized courses.

Step 2: Take ACE-Approved Courses

  • Prep One partners with Sophia Learning and other ACE-recognized providers.

  • Courses are 100% online, self-paced, and guided by our academic coaches.

  • Students are expected to complete an average of two courses per month during the 8-month school year.

Step 3: Earn College Credits

  • When a student completes a course, they earn ACE (American Council on Education) recommended credits.

  • These credits are logged and documented for transfer.

  • Credits align with general education courses—English, Math, Science, History, and more—making them valuable to almost every college degree plan.

Step 4: Transfer Credits to Partner Colleges

  • Prep One students can transfer their earned credits to over 80 colleges and universities that partner with Sophia Learning.

  • This includes HBCUs, state universities, and private institutions.

  • In addition, many non-partner colleges will still accept ACE credits through transcript evaluation.

Step 5: Save Time & Money

  • By the time they finish high school, Prep One students may already hold the equivalent of a freshman year (or more) of college credits.

  • Families save thousands on tuition, reduce student loan debt, and allow students to graduate college faster.

Example Pathway:

A Prep One student might graduate high school with:

  • 30–60 transferable credits (1–2 years of college completed).

  • Eligibility to enter college as a sophomore or junior, depending on the receiving institution.

Why It Matters

Prep One provides a risk-free way to accelerate learning. Credits are:

  • ACE-recommended (nationally recognized standard for credit transfer).

  • Accepted by 80+ partner colleges and evaluated by hundreds more.

  • Flexible — students choose whether to send them to a transcript now or later.

Your child can finish high school with a transcript full of credits—already accepted at dozens of colleges nationwide!