Low-Cost College Option Expands to Include High School Juniors and Seniors Statewide

High school juniors and seniors across the state have an expanded opportunity for a low-cost college option through dual credit, also called concurrent enrollment.

Tulsa Community College is launching High School Plus One across Oklahoma providing virtual college courses for eligible high school juniors and seniors beginning Fall 2022.

This means high school students can complete an entire year of college, 31 college credits, at very little cost to the student and family. These college courses are delivered virtually allowing any Oklahoma high school student to take advantage of this online opportunity and save thousands in college tuition while at the same time earning high school credit.

"We are combining our 15-plus years of experience and successful history in dual credit enrollment with the advancement we made in adapting coursework for virtual learning during the pandemic to expand what we do,” says Dr. Kristopher Copeland, TCC associate vice president of Academic Affairs. “Building success through education is our mission, therefore making college accessible and affordable is a priority for TCC.”

Funding through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education covers most of the tuition cost. However, students are responsible for mandatory fees, which is an average of $33 per credit hour, a substantial savings for a year of college for less than the cost of one course at a university. High School Plus One also uses Open Education Resources for all but one of the courses so there are no hidden costs for textbooks.

TCC also offers small class sizes with a student to faculty ratio in online courses of 30-to-1 so students benefit from increased faculty and class engagement as well as a maximum of 30 students in each class. Students also participate in college events including orientations and dedicated dual credit programs staff —all tailored to the individual student’s academic goals.

“By expanding the virtual dual credit options, we are expanding access to a college degree for all students and lessening the debt they take on. At the same time, national research shows dual credit students are more likely to continue with college and succeed at a higher rate,” says Copeland.

The High School Plus One virtual program includes English Comp I & II, History, Political Science, Intro to Psychology, Nutrition, Public Speaking, Intro to Philosophy, Math and Lab Science. TCC encourages students to declare a major to ensure correct enrollment in the science and math courses for their degree and transfer path.

To get started, students apply for admission to TCC in 10th grade and must meet all OSRHE requirements with classes starting the Fall semester of 11th grade. High School Plus One has a four-semester track as well as a Summer optional track for classes. Students take two college courses per semester as juniors and three courses per semester as seniors. The Summer option moves one course from the senior year, lightening the load in the final semester.

Any high school student or parent interested in learning more should contact dualcredit@tulsacc.edu, 918-595-4705 or begin at tulsacc.edu/dualcredit.