Students Benefitting from Dual Credit

Local students are seeing a big impact from dual credit classes taken at Frontier Community College, Lincoln Trail College, Olney Central College, and Wabash Valley College. Dual credit classes allow high school students to take college-level classes and earn college credit while still in high school.
 
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges put together a report reviewing the last six academic years of dual credit students at each high school within the District. The report provides an overview of student demographics, enrollment, and course information.
 
Cisne
 
Cisne High School saw 130 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $178,728.63 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $1,374.84 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 10.08. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 23 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Clay City
 
Clay City High School saw 47 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $121,061.04 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $2,575.77 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 18.89. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 19 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Edwards County
 
Edwards County High School saw 217 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $340,961.33 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $1,571.25 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 11.53. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 41 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Fairfield
 
Fairfield High School saw 465 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $1,262,961.12 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $2,716.05 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 19.92. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 25 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Flora
 
Flora High School saw 534 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $1,329,490.16 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $2,489.68 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 18.26. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 24 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Grayville
 
Grayville High School saw 81 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $196,860.52 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $2,430.38 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 17.83. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 26 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Hutsonville
 
Hutsonville High School saw 125 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $273,886.97 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $2,191.10 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 16.07. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 27 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Lawrenceville
 
Lawrenceville High School saw 142 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $177,910.65 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $1,252.89 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 9.19. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 24 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Mt. Carmel
 
Mt. Carmel High School saw 580 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $1,129,903.04 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $1,948.11 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 14.29. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 27 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Newton
 
Newton High School saw 573 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $1,578,974.06 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $2,755.63 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 20.21. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 25 percent were first-generation college students.
 
North Clay
 
North Clay High School saw 196 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $315,058.63 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $1,607.44 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 11.79. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 34 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Oblong
 
Oblong High School saw 161 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $213,901.77 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $1,328.58 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 9.75. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 23 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Palestine
 
Palestine High School saw 91 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $194,542.91 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $2,137.83 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 15.68. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 19 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Red Hill
 
Red Hill High School saw 218 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $384,723.26 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $1,764.79 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 12.94. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 34 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Richland County
 
Richland County High School saw 803 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $1,415,923.38 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $1,763.29 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 12.93. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 41 percent were first-generation college students.
 
Robinson
 
Robinson High School saw 509 students participate in dual credit classes. Students saved $1,407,334.59 in college expenses with an average savings per student of $2,764.90 per student. The average amount of credit per student was 20.28. Of the students taking dual credit classes, 31 percent were first-generation college students.
 
“Dual credit coursework has been incredibly valuable to local high schools providing students with an opportunity to get a jumpstart on earning college credit while still enrolled in high school,” said Megan Black, IECC Director of Dual Credit. “Dual credit students and families experience significant tuition savings by taking dual credit classes.  Dual credit students also have access to the same academic resources as students enrolled in courses on an IECC campus.”
 
Lincoln Trail College President and Vice Chancellor of Institutional Outreach Tona Ambrose says dual credit students see other benefits from taking college-level classes besides cost savings. Students are exposed to college-level work and academic rigor and dual credit puts students on an accelerated path to degree or certificate completion.
 
“Taking dual credit classes can provide a strong foundation for future success in higher education and beyond, making them a valuable option for motivated students. These dual credit experiences can also improve college and career readiness, increase a student’s confidence in their academic abilities, and allow students an opportunity to explore various career fields that will help them make more informed decisions about their future academic and career paths.”
 
Dual credit classes are available to students planning to pursue an associate degree and transfer to a four-year university or students planning on pursuing a degree or certification in career and technical education. Students intending to complete an associate degree and transfer to a four-year university can take advantage of IECC’s Three-to-Your Degree program, which can shorten the time to degree completion. Some CTE programs at IECC allow students to get a head start in their programs or complete a certificate program while still in high school. 
 
IECC Director of Dual Credit Erin Volk says that dual credit classes can be very advantageous to first-generation college students. “Taking dual credit classes can give students, especially first-generation students, a stronger support system and the guidance necessary to determine whether college is the right choice for them.”
 
Students should begin thinking about dual credit classes as they begin planning for their junior year of high school. Black and Volk say that students should start by talking with their school counselor to discuss course planning and the selection of courses. Students wanting to enroll in a dual credit or dual enrollment course can speak with an advisor at any of the four colleges in IECC. Advisors can help guide students on course selection to lead to an academic program of study.
 
Ambrose says overall, dual credit offers lots of benefits to families. “Through our Three-to-Your Degree program, students and their families can easily navigate and understand the list of general education college course offerings that are intentionally mapped out and to be taken during a student’s junior and senior year in high school, combined with one more year at an IECC school after graduation, which culminates into an associate's degree or certificate. Again, this allows for significant savings and a seamless academic process. Additionally, our IECC dual credit programs create a strong relationship between our high schools and our IECC schools, leading to a smoother post-secondary transition.”