Choose your path
If a college education seems beyond your reach,
UMass Dartmouth can help turn your dream of attending college into a reality. The College Now and START programs will not only help you get into UMass Dartmouth but will also continue to offer support throughout your college career.
Students who once ruled out a college education for academic or financial reasons are now UMass Dartmouth graduates, thanks to College Now and START. College can be in your future, too.
Join Us
At UMass Dartmouth, you’ll find students, like you, who have dreams of a better world. You’ll find faculty who will encourage you to explore new ideas and help you become the best student you can be.
You’ll also find a community that wants to help you not only set goals but achieve them by providing you with the tools and resources to find success.
College Now
Over 50 years ago, UMass Dartmouth founded the College Now program to provide an alternative pathway to college. Every student has different needs, and our personalized admissions process allows us to evaluate the needs of our students and provide the necessary support to help motivated students succeed at UMass Dartmouth.
The foundation of the College Now program is student support, which begins before you even step foot on campus. As a College Now student, you will be provided with the tools and resources you need to face the challenges and academic rigor of a college campus. This includes, but is not limited to, one-onone meetings with a College Now Counselor, Summer Bridge programming to assist with academic skill building, and various online and in-person resources to help prepare you for college success.
START: Steps Toward Abstract Reasoning and Thinking
If you’re interested in calculus-based majors, such as engineering, computer science, math, or physics, but lack the necessary math or science foundation these majors require, the START program is for you. START “steps”include a comprehensive mathematics course, a laboratory-based science course, an effective reasoning and computer-skills course, and counseling and tutoring to help develop good study habits in demanding technical programs.
Become a College Now or START Student
The College Now and START programs welcome students from a variety of backgrounds. We especially encourage students from low-income households or those whose parents have not earned a college degree.
Space is limited in the program and we cannot accept every applicant. To be considered for College Now/START you must:
• be a U.S. citizen or a permanent U.S. resident for at least one year
• graduate from high school with a GPA of 2.0 or higher
• complete an interview with College Now staff and demonstrate that you are ready for the challenge of college coursework
START applicants must be interested in calculus-based majors, such as engineering, math, computer science, or physics.
The College Now staff is always there to support and motivative students to do their very best at UMassD. When I joined College Now, I was a first-generation student, and I was a bit worried about what life would be like during my first year in college, but I overcame my doubts as I received the support and guidance I needed to succeed.”
Henrique Melo ‘23
umassd.edu/collegenow
Application Process *
• Complete the Common Application or UMass Dartmouth’s online application.
• On the application, select College Now or START as your intended major.
• Submit the application fee or waiver.
• Submit an official high school transcript.
• Include your personal essay.
• Submit one letter of recommendation.
• Send in your official SAT and/or ACT results. (College Board code: 3786) (optional)
• College Now/START will review your application and notify you if you are selected as a candidate for one of these programs. If so, you will be required to complete the College Now Conversation and placement testing.
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A UMass Dartmouth Education
You can choose from more than 100 academic programs. You’ll study the courses needed for the career you want, and also learn about the humanities, the sciences, and the social sciences. In other words, you’ll earn the wellrounded, comprehensive education you’ll need to be successful.
