SIC’s Dual Credit Program Empowers High School Students for College Success

Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) continues to make significant strides in preparing high school students for college success through its Dual Credit and Early College programs. In fiscal year 2024, SIC enrolled 630 high school students in dual credit courses, providing students across the region with an opportunity to accelerate their education, gain college credits, and save significantly on tuition costs.

Dual credit programs allow high school students to earn credits that count toward both their high school diploma and college degree at the same time, which significantly lowers the time and financial investment needed to complete a college degree. This benefit is not only empowering students, but also supports Illinois’s efforts to expand access to higher education statewide. According to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), Illinois community colleges, including SIC, lead the way in dual credit opportunities, with all 48 Illinois community colleges offering dual credit in their local communities.

Lucas Lueke, a dual credit Carmi-White County High School student in SIC’s Career Academy program at the Stanford D. Williams Career and Training Center in Carmi said, “The SIC vocational program has really changed how I see the trades. Without it, I wouldn’t have realized how accessible and rewarding it can be to build a career in this field. This program is showing me how easy it is to earn certificates that boost my chances for a good-paying job right after high school. I’d 100% recommend it to other students looking to advance in a vocational field.”

In FY23 alone, Illinois community colleges enrolled over 82,600 high school students in dual credit courses, with SIC contributing significantly to this figure in its district. Additionally, dual credit programs have been shown to improve students’ readiness for college-level coursework and increase graduation rates among those who take advantage of these early opportunities.

SIC Dual Credit and Early College Programs: Making College More Accessible and Affordable

SIC’s dual credit and early college options extend beyond traditional classroom settings. Programs such as ACE (Accelerated College Experience) enable students to participate in real-world experiences, such as community events and professional skill-building activities. Recently, the ACE group visited Harrisburg’s City Hall to assist with preparations for the city’s Sasquatch Festival, learning about community engagement from Mayor McPeak and building bonds with students from other high schools in SIC’s district. A record of volunteerism, excellent standardized test scores, and strong communication skills are all necessary to earn top scholarship dollar amounts.

“SIC has an amazing program called the ACE program! It is offered to juniors and seniors in high schools in the surrounding areas. This program gets the students involved in their surrounding communities, teaches them professionalism, the value of volunteering, public speaking, SAT/ACT preparation, credit hours and so much more with an amazing teacher in a great environment,” shared Pope County High School student Lorelai Hershey, an SIC ACE student.

Dual Credit Impact and Savings

Through SIC’s Dual Credit program, families benefitted from tuition savings, which totaled $947,884 in FY24, according to SIC Vice President of Administrative Services, Lisa Hite. “This equates to an average of 7 credit hours per student with a savings of $1,030.”

SIC President Dr. Karen Weiss explained, “By helping students get ahead on their college degrees in high school, we’re not only supporting their academic journey but also reducing their future financial burden.”

Illinois Community College Board data shows that dual credit participants tend to perform better in higher education, with substantially higher college graduation rates and more successful academic advancement than their peers. For families and students throughout Illinois, dual credit remains a key resource in achieving educational and professional goals.

To learn more about SIC’s Dual Credit and Early College programs, visit sic.edu/earlycollege, or contact SIC advisors at (618) 252-5400, ext. 4130 or advising@sic.edu.

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