Indiana Leads The Nation For The Share Of High Schoolers Earning College Credits Before Graduation

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – As high school students across Indiana return to the classroom, Ivy Tech Community College today announced a new milestone for the College’s dual credit and dual enrollment program. Last year, more than 7,200 Indiana high schoolers earned over 9,200 college credentials through Ivy Tech before graduation – an all-time high for the program. This school year, approximately 450 schools will offer students opportunities to earn college credit while in high school in partnership with Ivy Tech. 

 

Indiana leads the nation in the number of students earning college credit while in high school, and Ivy Tech is America’s largest institution accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). Last year, more than 91,000 of Ivy Tech’s nearly 200,000 students across the state were high school students that earned a total of 722,215 college credits. Ivy Tech’s dual credit and dual enrollment offerings saved Indiana students and their families more than $113 million on Ivy Tech’s lowest-in-the-state tuition rate.  

 

The credentials awarded through Ivy Tech’s high school programs include certificates, associate degrees and industry certifications. In academic year 2023-2024, nearly two in three Ivy Tech dual credit and dual enrollment credentials were awarded in the career and technical education (CTE) fields, and more than 2,200 high school students earned the Indiana College Core – the equivalent of their freshman year at a four-year college. Ivy Tech partners with 73 percent of Indiana high schools that currently offer the Indiana College Core, which all Indiana high schools are now required to offer this academic year, unless they submit a plan to the state to do so by AY 2026-2027. 

 

“By offering strategic and intentional college in high school programming, Indiana high schools across the state are creating a future where students walk across the graduation stage with not only a diploma, but also a college credential,” said Dr. Katie Lash, vice president for K-14 and strategic initiatives, Ivy Tech Community College. “The surging growth in Ivy Tech’s dual credit and dual enrollment offerings shows that Hoosier students and their families see tremendous value in this program and want more opportunities to access high-quality, college-level learning while in high school.” 

 

Two out of three Indiana students who earned dual credit while in high school went on to enroll in a two- or four-year postsecondary institution after graduation, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Students with some dual credit are also 10 percentage points more likely to graduate from college on time.  

 

As an extension of its commitment to helping Indiana high schoolers gain early exposure to college coursework, this summer, all 19 Ivy Tech campuses across the state provided free tuition and textbooks to students attending any high school in the state – including rising ninth graders, graduating seniors, homeschool students, and students at adult high schools. More than 9,000 students engaged in Ivy Tech’s free summerofferings, a 14 percent increase in participation over the previous year. 

 

This summer, Tech recognized 19 high school teachers from across the state with the President’s Award for Excellence in Dual Credit Instruction. Each Ivy Tech campus selected one educator from its high school partners for the award, which celebrates excellence in instruction and retention in subjects ranging from health sciences to advanced manufacturing to information technology. The 2024 statewide winner was Denise Louthain, an English teacher from Roncalli High School in Indianapolis.  

 

 

“The success of our dual credit and dual enrollment program is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and partner schools,” said Lash. “By helping students earn college credentials while still in high school, we are not only reducing the time and cost of credentials of value, we’re also equipping the next generation with the skills they need to succeed in today’s competitive job market.” 

 

“Partnering with Ivy Tech has given our students an incredible advantage,” said Karla Reed, principal of Winchester Community High School in Randolph County, Ind. “The opportunity to earn college credits while in high school has motivated our students to aim higher and dream bigger. We are seeing students graduate with not just a high school diploma, but with a clear path toward their future careers.” 

 

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About Ivy Tech Community College 

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.