Dual Credit

Dual credit is an option available for high school students who rank above average in academic achievement, to take a Richland college-level class. Dual credit students take a college level class, and receive college credit and high school credit at the same time. The classes may be offered at any of these sites:

• Their high school
• Richland’s main campus
• Heartland Technical Academy
• Clinton Higher Education Center

High school students, generally juniors and seniors, who meet all college course pre-requisites, are eligible for dual credit enrollment, pending approval of their high school principal or guidance counselor and their parent/guardian. Students in these college courses must have appropriate academic qualifications, a high level of motivation, and adequate time to devote to studying a college-level course.

High school students must:

• Complete the Admission Information form online
• Submit official high school transcript
• Submit official ACT and/or SAT scores (if available)
• Submit Principal’s Approval form (PDF)
• Submit Parent/Guardian Approval form (PDF)

High school must take the following:

• English assessment test or:
  • have an ACT score of at least 19 in both English and Reading)
  • have a SAT score of 480 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW)
• Math assessment test (if required for prerequisite) or:
  • have an ACT score of at least 22
  • have a SAT score of 530
• Meet course prerequisites, when applicable

Students who plan to attend another college or university (particularly a private or out-of-state school) should check with that school to be sure the college credits earned in this program transfer smoothly.

Students must check with their high school guidance counselor regarding their high school’s policy on course withdrawal. The time frame to withdraw from classes at your high school may be tremendously different from Richland’s policy. High school students’ transcripts can reflect a final grade of “F” for a course because they did not comply with their high school’s withdrawal policy.

High school students are required to abide by the College’s calendar of classes, which may vary from their home school. High schools often make accommodations for their students to take family vacations, attend special school functions/events/camps. Richland Community College does not differentiate between high school students and other students; all students need to make the necessary commitment required of their class.

High school students may register for classes when Richland Community College’s Director of Admissions & Recruitment is scheduled at their high school or at Richland Community College’s main campus. Tuition is due 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester. Textbooks are not included in the tuition amount. Textbooks and any other required materials are the student’s responsibility to purchase prior to the start of class.

Students participating in dual credit courses will be evaluated as college students and are expected to follow the rules and regulations of Richland Community College. All students will abide by Richland’s Student Rights and Responsibilities as found in the Student Handbook.

Even though you are in high school, you are an Richland Community College student when taking our classes. All Richland students are covered under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that prohibits Richland Community College from disclosing information to anyone, including parents, without the student’s written consent.