Dual-Credit Program

Earn college credits at the same time you complete coursework in high school with our dual-credit program.

Dual credit is credit received on your high school transcript as well as your college transcript.  Think of it as a “two for one."  One class counts as 2 separate institution credits.

The Dual Credit program at UC allows students to take courses that earn credit for both their high school and University of the Cumberlands. Although dual credit students are still high school students, enrolling in dual credit courses means you are concurrently a college student at University of the Cumberlands.

There are many benefits associated with dual credit. One of the biggest benefits of dual credit is the unique opportunity to get a head start on your college education and professional career. Enrolling in dual credit courses can save you time and money. 

Application Process

Students wishing to take dual credit courses on-site, at their high school campus, or online with UC must meet the following admission criteria: A GPA of 2.0 or higher, a minimum ACT composite score of 18 and be enrolled in participating schools. Students with a 3.0 GPA and high school counselor recommendation can apply with pending ACT scores.  Students are eligible to register for courses that do not require a discipline specific ACT score.

Participating high schools are as follows:  Williamsburg High School, Whitley County High School, Corbin High School, Jellico High School, Clay County High School, McCreary Central High School, Barbourville High School, Knox County High School,  Logan County High School, Somerset Christian, Bell County High School, and Oneida Baptist Institute.  Home school students within state in the following counties, Whitley, Knox, Laurel, Pulaski, Clay, McCreary, Bell, as well as Jellico, TN area are also eligible to apply.  We are not accepting out of state students (or out of area home school) at this time.  Should this change in the future, updates will be made to the website.

Application Process FAQS

A GPA of 2.0 or higher, a minimum ACT composite score of 18, or have a GPA of 3.0 and guidance recommendation (without ACT scores), and be enrolled in participating schools. Students with a 3.0 GPA and high school counselor recommendation can apply with pending ACT scores.  Students are eligible to register for courses that do not require a discipline specific ACT score.

Williamsburg High School, Whitley County High School, Jellico High School, Clay County High School, McCreary Central High School, Barbourville High School, Logan County High School, Somerset Christian, Bell County High School, Knox County High School, Lynn Camp High School, Lexington Christian Academy, Oneida Baptist Institute, Berea Community High School, Faith Christian Academy, Redbird Christian, and Central Christian Academy.

Home school students within Kentucky are eligible to apply.  We are not accepting out of state students at this time.  Should this change in the future, updates will be made to our site. 

Submit your application, (www.ucumberlands.edu/apply). Once a decision has been made, you will receive an email a decision has been posted to your application.  You must review the decision and accept by logging into the Patriot Portal before you are eligible to register for courses.  After you accept your offer of admittance, you will receive an email with your UC email, temporary password, and instructions to verify your identity.  After completing identity verification, wait about 30 minutes before trying to log in.  Once the account is locked from too many attempts to log in, it must be unlocked by the IT department. 

Students are limited to 13 hours per semester. If you are enrolled in a course at your high school, this counts toward your total hours. As a junior or senior, Kentucky students have the opportunity to have the costs of two classes covered.  KHEAA award determinations are made on a first-come, first-served basis.  Once registered, you must log into the KHEAA portal and choose your preferred term, fall or spring.  Seniors receive priority consideration in the award order. 

All new students are required to complete the OREN 110 module.  You will be registered for this with your first class.  It is a “click to accept terms” and only takes a few minutes.  There is no charge or credit.  You must complete before you are eligible to register for any additional classes. 

Program Costs

Tuition

The tuition for dual credit courses is $51.00 per in-seat course at Cumberlands, $147.00 per online course, $51.00 in-seat at the high school, and $25 per 1-hour lab course, up to 13 hours per semester, fall and spring. 

Seniors may overload up to 18 hours per semester, fall and spring (with high school approval). Overload fees for hours over 13 are $220.00 per credit hour.

Students are permitted to enroll in summer courses, but must check with their guidance counselor to verify if high school credit will be given. Tuition for summer courses are $265.00 per credit hour. There is no financial assistance from KHEAA for summer classes. Summer courses are not eligible for drops later in the term as dual credit courses in the fall and spring. Refund rates are determined by withdraw date and 100% non-refundable after week 3 into the course. 

Program Billing

Kentucky junior and seniors are eligible for 2 classes covered by KHEAA.  It is the student’s responsibility to log into www.kheaa.com to complete the term request, fall or spring. Payment for all non-covered KHEAA classes are due by mid-December for fall, mid-May for spring.  Students can check balances and make payments by following the instructions in this link:  https://youtu.be/HJMDIfN78Mc 

Sophomores are not eligible for KHEAA awards, but are eligible for 2 courses per year if enrolled in the CTE Pathways at your school.  Consult your guidance counselor to verify if your high school participates in this program.  Payments for all non-covered KHEAA courses are due by the end of each term.

Transferring Coursework

Students can access course info on our website http://www.ucumberlands.edu. UC is a regionally accredited institution that builds courses to meet the rigor of accreditation standards. Following high school graduation, all high school students should review any accumulated college credit during high school for the purpose of transferring those credits to any institution of higher learning the student plans to attend. Transferability of dual credit coursework can be reviewed with the registrars' office at registrar [at] ucumberlands.edu (registrar[at]ucumberlands[dot]edu) and 606-539-4316.

Privacy Consent Form

All dual credit students are required to complete the consent to disclosure form online or in the dual credit office. This form provides the dual credit office with the ability to disclose student grades and information to the high school and also to speak with a dual credit student’s parents. This form must be completed if the student wants the school or parents to speak to the dual credit office on their behalf.

Dual Credit Privacy Consent Form

Dual-Credit Scholarship

We are participating postsecondary institution in the Kentucky Dual Credit Scholarship Program. Students will not be responsible for payment for courses designated under the scholarship.

Students greeting others outdoors

Additional Resources

Use these resources to help you get ahead in the classroom.

Study group in a library

Grover M. Hermann Library

Our renovated library is equipped for learning in the digital age
Students walk to class on the first day of the fall semester

The Learning Commons

The Learning Commons puts the best academic resources all in one space, on-campus or online.
Students walk to class near the Grace Crum Rollins Center

Academic Advising & Assistance

Our student success team will help register you for courses and keep you on the path to graduation.

Take the Next Steps!

Dual-Credit FAQs

Our frequently asked questions for parents and students. 

The Dual Credit program allows students to take courses that earn credit for both their high school as well as University of the Cumberlands. Although you are still a high school student, enrolling in Dual Credit courses with UC means you are also a college student of University of the Cumberlands.

There are many benefits that come with being a Dual Credit student. However, the biggest benefit may be getting a head start into your college career. Enrolling in Dual Credit courses in high school can save you time and money overall. However, the grades earned in these classes are permanent. An undesirable grade or a “withdraw” will stay on your college transcript. 

Tuition for dual credit in-seat courses offered on the high school campus or on UC's campus is $49.50 per course. Tuition for dual credit online courses offered by UC faculty is $145.50 per course. Textbooks may also contribute to the overall cost. This depends on whether the school district or the student is responsible for purchasing the required books; this decision is made by the school. Textbooks can be purchased online or at the UC campus bookstore.

Students wishing to take UC dual credit courses on-site or at their high school campus must meet the following admission criteria: A GPA of 2.0 or higher and a minimum ACT composite score of 18. 

*NOTE: Students can be conditionally admitted prior to ACT exam. Exam scores should be provided to UC upon completion.

Any student who has met the admissions criteria will need to complete the UC online dual credit application. Then, the student will be assigned to a dual credit admissions counselor at UC. Once the admissions counselor receives the student’s official transcripts and ACT scores, the student will then receive an acceptance letter containing their UC student ID # and a link to setup their UC mail account. Students MUST set up an email account with their assigned ID #. This email account will allow students to receive important information from UC and will enable them to be enrolled in classes.

Students can look up course information on our website. www.ucumberlands.edu . UC is a regionally accredited institution that builds courses to meet the rigor of accreditation standards.  Following high school graduation, all high school students should review any accumulated college credit during high school for the purpose of transferring those credits to any institution of higher learning the student plans to attend.

All additions and/or drops need to be completed within the first week of classes in order to receive a full refund. Students may choose to drop after the first week of class, but will not receive a tuition refund. They will receive a “W” on their transcripts, which will not negatively affect their academic record or GPA. The last day to drop a course without a grade varies slightly from semester to semester, depending on the academic calendar. To find out the last day to drop for a particular semester, access the academic calendar on the UC website or contact your dual credit admissions counselor.

The students’ final grades will appear on their unofficial transcript on MyUC under Self-Service/Grades tab.

The academic calendar, dates for breaks and final exams can be found here. 

High school in-seat dual credit students follow the school’s schedule. Online dual credit students will be required to complete online assignments even during snow days according to the online course schedule.  UC On-campus students will follow UC’s Weather policy.  Students can sign up for Campus Alerts at http://www.ucumberlands.edu/alerts to be notified if campus is closed due to inclement weather.

The student will need to contact their admissions counselor to schedule a campus visit.

Students who choose to attend a different college after graduation will need to request that an official UC transcript be sent to that college or university. Students will need to contact the Registrar’s office.

Typically, on-campus students choose to get a student ID. However, they’re not required.

Fill out our free application for admission online, complete your FAFSA, and have your high school send us your official transcript and ACT scores.

Dual-Credit Staff

Let our dual-credit team help get you those college credits. 

Nate Clouse

Nate Clouse

Director of Undergraduate Online Student Success & Retention
Dual Credit | Department
UCumberlands Online
Undergraduate Student Success

Nate Clouse

Contact Information

606-539-4645
nate.clouse [at] ucumberlands.edu
Adams Center
Angie Zgarba

Angie Zgarba

Online Student Success Coordinator
Undergraduate Student Success
Dual Credit | Department

Angie Zgarba

Contact Information

606-539-3584
angie.zgarba [at] ucumberlands.edu
Adams Center
Jada Walden

Jada Walden

Online Student Success and Dual Credit Coordinator
Dual Credit | Department
Undergraduate Student Success

Jada Walden

Contact Information

606-539-3583
jada.walden [at] ucumberlands.edu
Adams Center