High school students who want to earn college credit, either in the summer or during the school year, have four program options to choose from.
Completing rigorous, college-accredited programming while in high school will enhance the college application and give students a head start on their college studies. Some programs even allow students to reside on campus and experience, firsthand, the challenges of college life while exploring academic passions.
Keep in mind that the transferability of credits earned in high school depends upon the accepting institution. With that said, here are some highlights of the options available to high school students:
AP Courses
Taking AP courses is a popular strategy for students who want to earn college credit during the school year.
Historically, colleges have given credit for AP courses if a student scores a 3 or above on a scale of 1 to 5. However, an increasing number of colleges, such as Brown University, have decided to not grant credit. Such institutions have returned to the traditional purpose of the AP program, placing an emphasis on placement instead of credit. They allow students with top scores to skip the most basic introductory courses and move to more advanced ones. However, this does not mean that they will grant credit.
Why not? Cynical people say it is a revenue issue. Universities need the tuition dollars and cannot afford to give up that money. More serious educators think it has to do with the quality and rigor of the AP courses, which are not comparable to college-level work, thus they cannot grant college credit. Placement is also less risky. If a student cannot handle the higher-level courses in college, he or she can move back to a beginning course.
Dual-Enrollment Programs
Another way to earn college credit in high school during the school year is through dual-enrollment programs that allow students to enroll in college courses while still in high school and still taking regular high school courses. Such courses can be taken in person at local colleges, online or at the student’s high school.
The transferability of dual-enrollment credit varies from state to state. College credit can be defined as pure dual-enrollment credit or articulated credit:
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Dual-Enrollment Credit
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Articulated Credit
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- Gain both high school and college credit for college coursework that is generally provided by a post-secondary institution.
- Often limited or reduced cost of tuition.
- Credit is generally recognized by every state institution within the state (depending on state program rules).
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- Gain college credit for high school coursework, generally sponsored by a post-secondary institution.
- Often no tuition cost.
- Credit is not transferable from the granting institution.
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Students are encouraged to consult with their high school counselors to identify the specific arrangements surrounding the dual-enrollment programs offered at their schools.
Summer Courses
Another popular way to earn college credit is to take a summer course that grants credit. The easiest way to do this is to take a course at a college. Many colleges offer credit-bearing summer courses for high school students. Programs may be residential or commuter, and take place at a range of public and private schools, two- and four-year colleges, and national and international universities.
Usually, the host institution grants the college credit and will accept credit if the student eventually enrolls. But some of these courses for high school students are NOT college-level, but rather deal with college admissions preparation, university life and student activities.
College Campus Experiences
Finally, there are a number of organizations that offer summer programs on college campuses. Many of these programs offer college credit, although not necessarily from the host institution. Often, these organizations have made arrangements with third-party colleges to grant the credit as a result of the academic merit of the program.
Envision has a number of summer programs for college-bound high school students that offer the option for students to earn college credit. In addition, many Envision programs help students experience college life, learn strategies to make the most of a university’s offerings and get firsthand experience working as a professional in fields such as medicine, engineering, law, business, digital media, etc.
The Value of College Credit
There are three main advantages to earning college credit while in high school:
- Earning college credit enhances a student’s college admissions application.
- Applying credit towards a college degree, while in high school, can help the student reduce costs and time to graduation.
- Doing college-level work while in high school enables a student to develop a serious commitment to learning and know how to persist within the rigors of a collegiate experience.
A recent 2013 State of College Admission report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that the rigor of academic coursework pursued in high school and the grades earned in such courses are the most influential factors in shaping postsecondary admissions decisions. And once in college, students with pre-college credit also have more options – greater course availability and faster progression towards selection of a major, for example.
In the end, earning college credit while in high school is no longer a nice to have. For the savvy student looking to proactively build their pathway to success, the completion of college-accredited courses or programs while in high school is now expected.
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