College Readiness Academy

Prepare for Higher Learning Success

Our free College Readiness Academy prepares New Americans for college or a higher education program in the United States. We also provide one-to-one support to help you understand how the American college system works and how to apply for financial aid.

Whether you join College Readiness Academy online, hybrid or in person, our skilled instructors use their expertise and passion for teaching to provide a student-centered learning experience so you can reach your full potential.

Next Session: January 16 – May 10
Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (hybrid)
Tuesday – Thursday, 5 -8 p.m. (online)

Fill out the Get Started form to join the mailing list for the spring semester.

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About This Class

When you enroll in our College Readiness Academy, you practice the same skills as expensive prep classes run by colleges.

With your instructors, you will practice:

Reading skills: such as annotation, critical thinking and vocabulary-building
Writing skills: such as paragraph-writing and essay-writing
Study skills: such as scanning, note-taking and test-taking
Computer skills: such as word processing, navigating e-learning platforms and research

With our college navigators, you will learn:

How the college system works
How to plan your classes
How to apply for financial aid
How to balance school, work and home life

Upon successful completion of College Readiness Academy, you may be eligible for three university-level credits at Metropolitan State University. Learn more about our partnership here.

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Our Results

The transformative impact of our College Readiness Academy is shown in our students’ success.

3.6

average GPA of CRA student in college
192

CRA students currently in college
82 %

of students persist toward graduation

Frequently Asked Questions

We specialize in teaching adults who were born outside of the United States, who are not yet ready for college and who would like additional support navigating higher education.

Our classes are filled with students of many different ages and backgrounds. Some students are nursing assistants who want to go to college to advance their medical careers. Some are stay-at-home parents who want higher education. Others are nurses, accountants, lawyers, engineers or teachers in their home countries and want to get retrained in the U.S.

We know how difficult it can be to start over in a new country. Our instructors and navigators listen to your goals and help you plan your next steps to achieve those goals, whether you want to continue in the same career or start a new career.

Our class is free, thanks to our generous donors and higher education partners.

Our college partners are Saint Paul College, Hennepin Technical College and Metropolitan State University. However, we have helped students attend and graduate from most Minnesota colleges and universities.

Find the Right Healthcare Career

Read our updated 2023 Guide to Colleges and Careers in Healthcare in the Twin Cities Metro Area to figure out which program is best for you.

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