Dual Credit Opportunities for High School Students

If you take a college course to earn BOTH high school and college credit at the same time, you are taking a dual credit course. Most often, this is done at your local high school. 

• It gives you a jump-start on college
• It can help you complete a degree in a shorter period of time, which can save you money
• It looks impressive on college admission applications, scholarship applications, job applications, etc.
• It eases the transition from high school to college coursework
• It introduces new subjects and provides new academic challenges to keep you engaged in learning
• There are no costly exams to determine whether or not credit is earned—the class automatically becomes part of your college transcript

Waubonsee currently has partnerships with several local high schools that allow high school students to take a Waubonsee credit course right at their own high school. If this option is not available to you, you can also take any Waubonsee credit course for which you are eligible at one of Waubonsee's four campuses or online.

The costs for dual credit courses taken at area high schools vary depending on the school. Ask your high school counselor for more information. Any dual credit classes taken at Waubonsee's campuses qualify for a 30% discount! For fall, that equals $98/credit hour or $294 for a standard 3-credit course. Online courses are subject to the college's standard tuition and fees.

Students looking to take dual credit through their high school will register with a teacher or counselor from the high school. Check with your high school for more details on how to register. Students must be at least 16 years old by the time the course ends.

To enroll in a class at a Waubonsee campus, whether for dual credit or dual enrollment, you should: 

• Consult with your High School Counselor to choose a course(s).You can also ask a Waubonsee Admissions Advisor for help too!
• View the Waubonsee course schedule and select the course that works best for you. 
• Confirm your course(s) with your High School Counselor and have them sign Waubonsee’s High School Student Registration/Authorization Form (pdf). 
• Bring the completed form to any of our campus Registration and Records Offices and pay for the course

All high school students must meet college requirements for courses, including prerequisites, before registering. Some courses may require placement testing to determine a student's skill level before enrolling. Placement can be determined by ACT scores, SAT® scores, PARCC scores or Accuplacer® test results, and successful completion of a Transitional math course. To schedule a placement test, please contact the Learning Assessment and Testing Services center.

High school students are encouraged to register for Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) general education courses to ensure the highest level of transferability. The IAI code is designated after each course's description in Waubonsee's college catalog and credit course schedule. If unsure about specific course selection, it is best to consult with a Waubonsee Admissions Advisor.

If you're looking to build up your English and/or math skills in preparation for college-level work while also earning high school credit, you'll want to look into our concurrent enrollment option. Ask your high school counselor for more information.

We also offer other credit options, including VALEES articulated credit for many high school career and technical education (CTE) courses. Visit the VALEES website for participating schools and courses, or ask your high school counselor for more information.

High school students taking a Waubonsee course for college credit only are considered dual enrollment students. Dual enrolled students often come to Waubonsee to build up your skills in preparation for college-level work; others come to complete some general education requirements while still in high school.

Watch this short video to learn more about dual enrollment.

Students who are dual enrolled take their college courses at one of Waubonsee's four campuses or online. New this fall, high school students taking courses on campus receive a 30% tuition discount! That means you pay just $98/credit hour or $294 for a standard 3-credit course! Online courses require standard Waubonsee tuition and fees.

To enroll in a class at a Waubonsee campus, whether for dual credit or dual enrollment, you should: 

• Consult with your High School Counselor to choose a course(s).You can also ask a Waubonsee Admissions Advisor for help too!
• View the Waubonsee course schedule and select the course that works best for you. 
• Confirm your course(s) with your High School Counselor and have them sign Waubonsee’s High School Student Registration/Authorization Form (pdf). 
• Bring the completed form to any of our campus Registration and Records Offices and pay for the course 

All high school students must meet college requirements for courses, including prerequisites, before registering. Some courses may require placement testing to determine a student's skill level before enrolling. Placement can be determined by ACT scores, SAT® scores, PARCC scores or Accuplacer® test results, and successful completion of a Transitional Math course. To schedule a placement test, please contact the Learning Assessment and Testing Services center.

High school students are encouraged to register for Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) general education courses to ensure the highest level of transferability. The IAI code is designated after each course's description in Waubonsee's college catalog and credit course schedule. If unsure about specific course selection, it is best to consult with a Waubonsee Admissions Advisor.