Dual Credit Coursework
General Information
Taking classes for college credit during high school is an option for many students. In addition to preparing high school students for the rigor of college courses, dual credit may also allow students to arrive with some required courses already completed, graduate early, and save money on tuition, fees, and other expenses.
But students, families, and high school staff should be aware of how accumulating these dual credits could impact the financial aid students are eligible to receive during college. Careful planning is required to ensure that this head start, and the changes to financial aid eligibility it may bring, do not present a roadblock later in a student’s college career.
Enrollment Requirements for Aid
Federal and state aid programs have various enrollment requirements. Many, including Title IV federal aid and West Virginia state aid, will only count courses toward a student’s aid eligibility if they are degree-pursuant, meaning required for the student’s degree completion.
This means that if a student earns a large number of required college credits during high school, they may be limited during some college semesters when it comes to available courses that count toward their aid eligibility.
When students at WVU enroll in classes, they are automatically reviewed for degree-pursuant coursework and aid eligibility through our Course Program of Study (CPoS) process. Both students and their advisors will be notified via MIX email if a lack of degree-pursuant coursework puts the student’s financial aid eligibility at risk, and they will be advised to make adjustments to the student’s schedule if possible.
If a student has no more degree-pursuant coursework left to take — whether because of dual enrollment credits brought in from high school or other reasons — they will need to pursue other means of paying for the non-degree-pursuant courses. Institutional scholarships, external and private scholarships, private loans, and other funding options may be available.
What to Consider
- Participants in the WVU ACCESS Early Start program should consider taking courses approved for dual enrollment credit by their high school and ones that satisfy a university’s general education requirement.