College Now

College Now is an opportunity to receive free college credits through CUNY institutions, open to juniors and seniors. These classes are typically offered after school and/or on Saturdays, with online and in-person options available.

Hunter, BMCC and John Jay are official partners, which means that Beacon students receive priority admission, however students can apply to programs at the other CUNY campuses as well. Due to the popularity of these courses, we recommend applying as soon as possible in order to secure your preferred course and scheduling options.

Opportunities for summer courses are typically posted here in March and April, with Fall courses posted in May and June and Spring courses posted in November and December.

Check back here throughout the year for additional options are they become available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply to more than one program?

Yes, however you can only fill out the official CUNY College Now Application once. If you have already filled out the official application, you must email the second college you are applying to with your class options or fill out their own application (if they have one).

Can I take more than one class a semester?

Yes, as long as the classes are at different colleges and the times of the classes do not conflict with each other.

I submitted an application. What happens now?

Most of the College Now programs accept students on a rolling basis, so keep an eye on your email for additional information after your application has been submitted (please also check your spam/junk email). Some schools require you to confirm your spot in the class.

How do I get college credit for these classes?

Your future attending college will likely require you to send an official transcript from the CUNY institution in order to consider awarding the college credits. You should only initiate this process once you know what college you will be attending and you can learn more about how to send your official transcript here.

Will this appear on my Beacon transcript?

No. While prior to the 2022-23 school year, Beacon was able to add these courses to your transcript, we found that in some cases colleges were hesitant to award college credits when the course appeared on a high school transcript. To avoid any delay in receiving college credits, you must send an official transcript from the issuing institution (see link above).

How will the colleges I’m applying to know that I took this course?

You will be asked on your college applications if you are currently or have ever taken a course for college credits. You will be able to add the name of the institution and course, and in some cases the grade. If you would like an unofficial transcript sent to your colleges as well, you can download it from your CUNYFirst account and upload it to MaiaDrive.