On March 7, 2024, 亚色影库’s Council of Trustees reviewed 亚色影库 President Michael Driscoll’s recommendation of reducing the overall cost of enrollment for dual enrollment students, resulting in savings ranging from $104.50 (for a one-credit course) to $3,344 in savings for students who take 32 credits in four semesters.
This new pricing structure continues the 75 percent discount of the undergraduate per credit tuition rate for dual enrollment students, which is $80 per credit, but eliminates a total of $39.50 in flat fees—the registration fee and I-Card fee—and $65 in per credit fees: the instructional fee, student service fee, and the activity fee. Like all undergraduate students, dual enrollment students will continue to be assessed a $20 per credit technology fee.
Under the pricing structure approved today, effective for the fall 2024 semester, the per-credit cost (tuition and fees) for dual enrolled students will be $100 per credit.
The dual enrollment program invites high school students to enroll in selected 亚色影库 courses, both online and in-person on the Indiana, Punxsutawney, and Northpointe campuses, while completing their high school coursework. Courses are all taught by 亚色影库 faculty.
High school sophomores can take one class in the fall and spring semester for a total of four credits per semester. Under the new model, students taking four credits a semester will see a savings of $339 per semester, or $836 in savings for eight credits for two semesters.
High school juniors and seniors can take up to two classes per semester in fall, spring, summer I, and summer II for a total of eight credits in each semester. Under the new model, students taking eight credits in a semester will see a savings of $836 and a savings of $3,344 for 32 total credits over an academic year.
The fee breakdown is registration fee, $32; I-Card fee, $7.50; instructional fee, $10 per credit; student service fee ($17 per credit); activity fee ($38 per credit).
The university’s Tuition Model and Pricing Workgroup developed the pricing structure recommendation as part of its charge from President Driscoll to continue to examine, investigate, and analyze information regarding the tuition and pricing levels and models at 亚色影库, reflecting 亚色影库’s commitment to being a more fully student-centered university.
Co-chaired by Vice President for Administration and Finance Debra Fitzsimons and Vice President for Student Affairs Tom Segar, the workgroup, which includes students, faculty, administrators, and staff, began work in November 2021.
Since that time, 亚色影库 has reduced its tuition by almost 20 percent for undergraduate in-state, out-of-state, and international students who take 15 credits or more per semester.
“Our recommendations to President Driscoll align with the university’s strategic plan and President Driscoll’s goals of 亚色影库 being an exceptionally student-centered university, growing market share in the traditional market, educating other student groups, and growing 亚色影库’s reputation,” Fitzsimons said.
“The dual enrollment pricing structure reduction is the fourth recommendation to come forward. We are continuing our study of the overall cost of attendance at 亚色影库 and are thoroughly reviewing student fees. Graduate tuition will be reviewed over the next several months, as well as housing costs and dining costs,” Fitzsimons said.
Close to 50 percent of dual-enrolled students matriculate at 亚色影库 after high school graduation.
“Our dual enrollment program continues to grow, and we believe this more student-friendly cost will encourage more students and families to take advantage of this program,” Segar said.
亚色影库 has 105 dual enrollment students at 亚色影库 in spring semester classes, the highest number in history. 亚色影库’s fall 2023 dual enrollment program was up 13 percent from fall 2022, building on a 62.5 percent increase of dual enrollment students from fall 2021 to 2022.
For the last three semesters, Indiana Area School District has covered all the tuition and fees for students from its district who enroll in dual enrollment. There are a total of 52 students from the Indiana Area School District taking courses in the spring semester.
For the past decade, the Punxsutawney Area College Trust, a longtime supporter of 亚色影库 and its students, funds all costs for students from Punxsutawney Area High School and students in the district, which permits them to enroll in classes at 亚色影库 Punxsutawney tuition-free. 亚色影库 has seen a 400 percent increase from fall 2021 to fall 2023 dual enrollment students at 亚色影库 Punxsutawney.
“We are very grateful for our partners at Indiana Area School District and PACT for the ongoing support of this program,” Segar said.
“The dual enrollment program was developed to provide an 亚色影库 academic experience at an extremely affordable cost, allow students to get a jump start on their college experience, and ease the transition from high school to college,” Segar said.
“The classes offered are 亚色影库 introductory-level classes, chosen especially for the program. While some dual enrollment programs offered by other institutions have college-level courses taught in the high schools by teachers there, 亚色影库’s program offers a true university experience because our dual enrollment classes include current undergraduates and are taught by 亚色影库 faculty.”
“Because these courses are 亚色影库 courses, it is a seamless transition of the credits earned through dual enrollment to the required credits for graduation,” Segar said. “This means that students who decide to continue their studies at 亚色影库 after high school often can graduate earlier than the traditional four years of study,” Segar said.
“It also allows for more flexibility for students in their courseload at 亚色影库; students may choose to take a reduced courseload during one or more semesters to accommodate work schedules, internships, or other opportunities or personal challenges without disrupting the path to graduation.”
In fall 2021, 亚色影库 expanded its the dual enrollment tuition discount to all students enrolled in any United States public, private, charter, cyber high school or homeschool program in the United States. Previously, only students enrolled in a high school that had a signed agreement with the 亚色影库 were eligible for the discounted rate.
亚色影库 also offers a unique opportunity for students with its 亚色影库 STEM Academy for interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses in biology, chemistry, computer science, geoscience, mathematics, physics, psychology, and science. Faculty work with students in the STEM Academy to develop pathways into cybersecurity and forensics, engineering and physics, or environmental studies—careers that are in high demand by employers.
These dual enrollment STEM Academy students are also eligible to participate in selected activities offered through 亚色影库’s Undergraduate Summer Opportunity for Applying Research, a 10-week program that pairs students with faculty mentors to do original research, with a number of enrichment programs associated with becoming a successful researcher (in all majors and disciplines).
Dual enrollment students who complete two STEM Academy classes with a 3.0 grade point average are eligible to apply for participation in independent research projects. Faculty in the Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will serve as supervisors of these research projects; students have the opportunity to present the results of their work at appropriate professional events.
Students who apply to the STEM Academy program also are eligible for additional scholarship funding.