More students looking into dual credit courses

BOWLING GREEN Ky.-For the past few years, colleges like Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College have been seeing steady increases of students opting to enroll in dual credit courses, allowing them to earn college credit while they’re finishing up high school.

School officials say the work-ready scholarship expanded to dual credit tuition, meaning students with this scholarship can now take advantage of dual credit courses. Associate professor of communications Jessica Adams has dual credit students in her classes, which she really enjoys.

“They’re an amazing group of students that I get to work with. This semester, I actually have two classes. They are amazing students,” Adams said.

Camryn Jones is a student at the Lighthouse Academy but takes dual credit courses at the college, which she said gave her a chance to adjust to the college world.

“I’ll admit, I was pretty nervous because I’m like ‘I’m in high school and I’m starting college, is it going to be really hard?’ But now that I’m in, it’s a lot easier,” Jones said.

Being a full-time student costs over 5 hundred dollars at the community college level, but dual credit allows students to take the courses for a lower price, making it easier on the students and parents.

“It’s just really convenient. You’re working on college credit while in high school. It’s also at a lower price, so it’s very cost-effective. It really helps you out,” Jones said.

“Saving that money not only helps you as a student, but it also helps your parents,” Adams added.

Adams said the dual credit deal is too good to pass up. So much so, that she’ll have it on deck for her daughter.

“My daughter is a freshman in high school right now, and when she gets older, I intend for her to be registered in dual credit classes,” Adams said.

Another dual credit opportunity at the college is called DC to finish, which can cover 25 to 100% of a dual credit student’s tuition.