College Access Program (CAP)
Collaboratively offered by Buffalo State and high schools across the state, the College Access Program (CAP) offers high school students the opportunity to take a college course that provides both high school and college credit. All programs are aimed at introducing high school juniors and seniors to college-level work, and allow them to achieve college credits for successful participation, as well as credits towards graduation from their home high school.
CAP Courses offered cover a range of disciplines, from mathematics to fashion design, and vary in number and kind by school and district. Each course is offered at a fraction of the cost of its college-level tuition, which makes the program highly affordable for families while providing future savings in college costs.
CAP Benefits
- The program simultaneously offers high school and college credit for a selected course(s).
- Enhances the education of students, with instructional standards and learning outcomes the same as those of the parallel college course
- Gives students an early start in college, with courses that can transfer to other colleges or universities
- Provides access for students to Buffalo State academic resources (library, online materials, etc.)
- Reduces the cost of college study, with a tuition cost about one-third of regular Buffalo State courses. Enrollment in these courses may provide future opportunities to students, such as the ability to enroll in upper-level college courses or to complete a four-year degree in a shorter amount of time.
CAP Credits
Upon successful completion of CAP course requirements, students will receive credit from Buffalo State for the courses in which they have enrolled and for which they have paid.
- These credits will form the basis of a permanent post-secondary academic record at Buffalo State.
- These courses can be applied to additional study at Buffalo State or any other SUNY school, and they may be eligible for transfer to other institutions.
CAP Admission and Application
Admission Criteria
- Junior and senior students who are recommended and approved by high school staff are eligible to enroll.
- All course work attempted will be recorded on the student’s permanent Buffalo State transcript.
- Enrollment in CAP courses will be for non-degree undergraduate study only and will not guarantee admission as a matriculated, degree-seeking student. In order to matriculate, students must file a formal application with the Buffalo State admissions office and meet all admission requirements.
Application
- All participants must apply during the designated application dates for your school. Check with your teacher for application dates
- Payment is required at the time of application, and can be made by credit or debit card
- Course registration will not be completed until full payment is received
Important Information for Parents and Students
Important Documents for Parents and Students
If your child is interested in enrolling in CAP courses, please attend one of our parent orientations (listed below). Not sure whether your child attends a semester school or a full-year school? Refer to our list of participating schools!
Important Documents for Teachers
Parent Orientations
Fall Orientation for Semester Schools
Orientation for Full-Year Schools
Spring Orientation for Semester Schools
Participating Instructors and Schools
Participating CAP high school instructors are partnered with Buffalo State faculty members, who provide guidance and support to ensure the level of work meets college standards. A solid record of success has been achieved for all, in more than 40 schools across the state.
At semester schools, courses are taught either in the Fall or Spring term, or over the course of full academic year. At full-year schools, all courses are taught over the course of full academic year.
- Alden Central High School
- Bronxwood Preparatory Academy
- Brooklyn Bridge Academy
- Brooklyn STEAM Center
- Crotona International School
- Frontier Senior High School
- Lancaster Central High School
- Lower East Side Preparatory High School
- Mount Mercy Academy
- Orchard Park High School
- Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
- Buffalo Academy of Science
- Buffalo Seminary
- Capital Region BOCES
- Cattaraugus - Little Valley Central School
- Cheektowaga Central High School
- Cleveland Hill High School
- East Aurora High School
- Eastern Suffolk BOCES
- Erie I BOCES
- Grand Island Senior High School
- Hamburg High School
- High School of Fashion Industries
- Holland High School
- High School of Art and Design
- Hutchinson Central Technical High School
- Kenmore East High School
- Kenmore West High School
- Leonardo daVinci High School
- Monroe County BOCES
- Mount Saint Mary Academy
- Nassau BOCES
- Niagara Falls High School
- Nichols School
- North Tonawanda Senior High School
- Orleans-Niagara BOCES
- The Park School
- Pioneer High School
- Tapestry Charter School
- Westfield Academy and Central School
- Williamsville East High School
- Williamsville North High School
- Williamsville South High School
Buffalo State CAP Transcripts
Transcripts are available only after the grading window for the semester has officially closed. Students enrolled solely in Fall courses may order transcripts once the Spring grading window has closed. Students in Full Year or Spring courses may order transcripts after the Early Summer grading window has closed. Each year, students will receive a flyer from their school that includes the specific dates when transcript requests may be submitted. You may also look up grading windows on the Buffalo State Academic Calendar. Submitting a transcript request before the designated date may result in your request not being processed.
If you need proof of your enrollment in CAP courses prior to the end of the semester, please call our office at 716-878-5907 or email us at cps@buffalostate.edu.
After the grading window closes, you may download your unofficial transcript from Banner. Instructions for logging into can be found here: Sign-in to Banner for the first time You will need your Banner ID, which can be obtained from your teacher or by calling our office. Your initial Banner PIN is your date of birth in the format MMDDYY. If you're unable to log in, please call the Help Desk at 716-878-4357. Once you’re logged in, follow the instructions below:
- Click on the Student tab at the top
- Click on Student Records
- Click on Academic Transcript
- Leave both drop-downs as they are and click Submit. You can then print it or save it as a PDF.
If you have any questions or encounter issues ordering transcripts, please contact our office directly rather than the registrar's office.