Dual Credit

With Southwestern's Dual Credit Lower Division Collegiate (LDC) and Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, high school students complete both a high school course and a college course simultaneously.

LDC courses are courses that fulfill the freshman and sophomore college level transfer requirements. These academic courses are transferable to four year universities.

CTE courses help students gain the skills, technical knowledge, academic foundation, and real-world experience they need to prepare to enter high-skill, high-demand, high-wage careers.

The Dual Credit program is perfect for students who want to begin earning college credits without having to leave their regular school routine.

Eligible high school juniors or seniors have an opportunity to take college classes on the Southwestern campus or online through the Expanded Options Program.

Students sign up for and attend classes on the Southwestern campus just like a regular college student.

Students/Families may work with their high school to determine whether the district will pay for tuition, fees, and books.

School Districts may receive an EO Waiver from the state whereby they are not required to provide EO option to students. If so, it is at the discretion of the district whether or not to pay for a student’s associated tuition, fees, and books.

Classes are open only to eligible juniors and seniors who are 16 years or older, have not received a high school diploma, are approved and referred by their high school, and have been identified during the spring prior to the year in which they are to enroll at SWOCC.

Expanded Options is right for the high school age student who is ready for a challenge and ready for academic work in a college environment.

The Southwestern Advantage, provides eligible high school students another opportunity for early entry into postsecondary education through a partnership between a local high school and Southwestern.

The two schools link up to provide a college course taught by a Southwestern faculty on the high school’s campus.

There is no tuition cost to the student for participating in a Southwestern Advantage course. A district may or may not cover the cost of textbooks or other fees.

This program promotes a seamless education for 11th and 12th grade students. It provides them with additional options to continue or complete their education, earn concurrent high school and college credits, and gain early entry into post-secondary education.

Local homeschooled teens may also earn credits from Southwestern through the College Now program.

Homeschooled students who are 16 years or older may take Southwestern courses on their own by contacting the College Now department. They will be solely responsible for all tuition, fees, books, or other expenses. 

Students may also work with a local school district to offset the cost of taking classes. Students/ Families should contact their local high school principal to discuss this option further.

The Home School Option is great for home schooled students who are ready and want to get a head start of college.

There is a final option for high school seniors to get a head start on their college credits.

Local high-school students who are not entirely ready for the college experience may remain enrolled in their district and return for a fifth year of high school to earn their Advanced Diploma. These students are enrolled concurrently as a high school and college student.

This option is particularly effective for seniors who might need an additional year of transition before college.

The Advanced Diploma program is something the parent and student should first discuss with their high school principal.