Western Kentucky University is dropping the cost of its dual credit courses.
The cost of a three-hour course will now be $156, down from the previous rate of $210.
The move follows the recent announcement of a new scholarship initiative launched by Governor Matt Bevin which will provide high school seniors with up to two free dual credit courses.
The executive order issued from Gov. Bevin’s office says the goal of the scholarship initiative is for high school students to graduate with at least nine hours of postsecondary credit and to “increase the education and skill level of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s workforce and its workforce and its workforce participation rate.”
Dewayne Neely, head of the WKU Dual Credit Program, says an increased focus on preparing students for college and work will likely increase the demand for dual credit programs.
“I think as schools and school administrators get used to that, they may even require so many dual credit classes to graduate—to really emphasize their belief that college should come right after high school and maybe even be a part of high school.”
Neeley says about 58 percent of students who take WKU dual credit classes eventually enroll in the school full-time. WKU’s Dual Credit program partners with 79 high school and home school programs throughout the state.
