As the price tag on a college education continues to rise, the Community College of Allegheny County is offering college-bound high schoolers an opportunity to save both time and money on their degrees.
Regional high school students can enroll in CCAC courses this summer and fall – at no cost.
The tuition-free courses are available to high school sophomores and juniors thanks to CCAC donors participating in the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to get these college credits now so you're not paying for them later,” CCAC Dean of Students Vladimir St. Surin said.
Students who take dual enrollment courses often start their college careers as sophomores. While these courses can help students save money down the road, they also increase students’ chances of graduating from high school and enrolling in college, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
At CCAC, subjects such as information technology, business and culinary arts will be available to interested students, who can enroll in any course that doesn’t require prerequisites, Mr. St. Surin said.
Students can take the courses in-person, online or in a hybrid format.
“They can choose whatever fits,” Mr. St. Surin said.
When they graduate from high school, students could continue at CCAC or transfer credits to another four-year institution.
Mr. St. Surin doesn’t just see dual enrollment classes as a way for high schoolers to save some money. These courses also help students “test the waters” of their career paths, he said.
“I think if you have an opportunity to find out what you want to do when you're 14, 15, 16, 17, you hit the ground running [freshman year of college],” he said.
CCAC’s summer registration is open now. Fall registration starts April 15.
Interested students can learn more by visiting CCAC’s website.
First Published: April 1, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
Updated: April 1, 2023, 6:54 p.m.
