OTC Dual Credit is the most inexpensive option in the area and transfers well to other colleges! Explore the information below and within the right-hand menu to learn more about why so many schools choose to partner with us!
| 25/FA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Before Summer Break | (online) | Priority Registration Ends for Online/Roster Verification (only continues if space is available) | |
| 8/9/2025 | (seated/onsite) | Educator Conference for Instructors | |
| 8/15/2025 | (online) | Canvas Opens for Enrolled Students (Test/Troubleshoot Technology Access) | |
| 8/18/2025 | (online) | First Day of Classes (Students can start submitting work) | |
| TBA | (online) | No Bill, if drop before this date | |
| TBA | 9/1/24 | (online) | 50% Bill, if drop within date range |
| TBA | (online) | Full Bill, if drop after | |
| 9/1/2025 | (all) | Labor Day (College Closed) | |
| TBA | (seated/onsite) | Registration Ends & Roster Verification | |
| TBA | (seated/onsite) | Full Bill, if drop after | |
| 9/2/2025 | (online) | First Day of 14-week Late Start Courses | |
| TBA | (online) | Monthly Grade Report | |
| 10/6/2025 | (all) | Fall Break (College Closed) | |
| 10/7/2025 | (all) | College Development Day (No Classes) | |
| 10/21/2025 | (online) | Midterm Grade Reports | |
| 11/1/2025 | (seated/onsite) | New Instructor/New Course Application Due for Next Semester | |
| 11/5/2025 | (all) | Payment Window Opens | |
| TBA | (online) | Monthly Grade Report | |
| 11/26/2025 | 11/30/2025 | (all) | Thanksgiving (College Closed) |
| 12/2/2025 | (all) | Last day to drop or withdraw, W on transcript | |
| 12/5/2025 | (all) | Payment Window Closes | |
| 12/8/2025 | 12/12/2025 | (online) | Final Assessments |
| 12/15/2025 | (seated/onsite) | Final Grades Due in myOTC by Instructors | |
| 12/16/2025 | (online) | Final Grades Reports | |
| TBA | Before Winter Break | (online) | Priority Registration Ends for Online/Roster Verification (only continues if space is available) |
| TBA | TBA | (all) | College Closed: Winter Break |
| January | (seated/onsite) | Remuneration Checks to Schools |
| Date | Range | Type of Dual Credit | Term | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before Winter Break | (online) | 16-week/semester | Registration Ends (If Space Existed)/Roster Verification | |
| TBA | TBA | (all) | College Closed: Winter Break | |
| January | (seated/onsite) | Registration Begins for Spring Semester Only | ||
| 1/10/2025 | (online) | 16-week/semester | Canvas Opens for Enrolled Students (Test/Troubleshoot Technology Access) | |
| 1/13/2025 | (online) | 16-week/semester | First Day of Spring Classes (Students can start submitting work) | |
| 1/20/2025 | (all) | College Closed: Marin Luther King, Jr. | ||
| 1/19/2025 | (online) | 16-week/semester | 100% Refund End/No Bill | |
| 1/20/2025 | 1/26/2025 | (online) | 16-week/semester | 50% Refund End/Partial Bill |
| 1/24/2025 | (online) | 14-week/late start | Canvas Opens for Enrolled Students (Test/Troubleshoot Technology Access) | |
| 1/26/2025 | (online) | 16-week/semester | Full Bill, if drop on or after | |
| 1/27/2025 | (online) | 14-week/late start | First Day of Spring Classes (Students can start submitting work) | |
| 2/1/2025 | (online) | 14-week/late start | 100% Refund End/No Bill | |
| 2/2/2025 | 2/7/2025 | (online) | 14-week/late start | 50% Refund End/Partial Bill |
| 2/7/2025 | (online) | 14-week/late start | Full Bill, if drop on or after | |
| 2/6/2025 | (online) | Seated | Registration Ends (If Space Existed)/Roster Verification | |
| 2/10/2025 | (seated/onsite) | No Refunds/full bill if drop after | ||
| 2/13/2025 | (online) | Monthly Grade Report *two-week report for latestart class | ||
| 3/1/2025 | (online) | Custom class requests due for fall for groups of 12 or more students only | ||
| 3/1/2025 | (all) | Scholarship Applications Due | ||
| 3/11/2025 | (online) | Midterm Grade Reports | ||
| 3/16/2025 | 3/23/2025 | (online) | No Classes: Spring Break | |
| 3/21/2025 | 3/23/2025 | (all) | College Closed: Spring Break | |
| 3/17/2025 | (online) | Registration begins for summer and fall courses | ||
| 4/5/2025 | (all) | Payment Window Opens for Unpaid Balance | ||
| 4/11/2025 | (online) | Monthly Grade Report | ||
| 5/1/2025 | (all) | Instructors: Last day for new applications to teach seated next semester | ||
| 5/5/2025 | (all) | Payment Window Closes for Unpaid Balance | ||
| 5/5/2025 | (all) | Drop: Last day to drop or withdraw, W on transcript | ||
| 5/12/2025 | 5/16/2025 | (online) | Final Assessments | |
| 5/19/2025 | (seated/onsite) | Final Grades Due in myOTC by Instructors | ||
| 5/20/2025 | (online) | Final Grades Distributed | ||
| June | (seated/onsite) | Remuneration Checks to Schools |
| Date | Range | Type of Dual Credit | Term | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | (seated/onsite) | Remuneration Checks to Schools | ||
| 6/2/2025 | (online) | Summer courses begin | ||
| 6/19/2025 | College Closed- Juneteenth | |||
| 7/4/2025 | College Closed- Independance Day | |||
| TBA | (seated/online) | Summer payment window | ||
| 8/1/2025 | Last day to withdraw with a W on your transcript | |||
| 8/8/2025 | (online) | Summer courses end | ||
| August | (seated/onsite) | Registration Begins for Fall after your school starts |
The benefits to students who take dual credit courses are numerous:
Schools and teachers also benefit when students enroll in dual credit classes. For seated classes at the high school, OTC remunerates a portion of dual credit tuition back to participating schools and approved dual credit instructors gain experience teaching college curriculum.
OTC Dual Credit offers two learning formats: seated and online.
A seated format means students receive instruction from an approved high school instructor as part of their school day. Typically, this type of instruction is in-person and at the high school location. The subjects available for seated classes depend upon the credentials of each high school instructor and accreditation standards.
Online course format means students receive instruction from an OTC instructor and participate in class with other college students of various ages. This type of instruction only exists in the online format. Many area high schools offer this option for high school students to complete in a computer lab as part of the school day. The subjects available for online classes at the discounted dual credit rate are limited to a specific class list, provided on the course options page.
The partnering high school determines which format option is provided to students at their high school.
Students enrolled in dual credit are college students. The expectations outlined below assist students with how to navigate college before high school graduation!
OTC expects dual credit students to act like college students, perform at the college level, and be responsible for their own education. The college-level expectations include attendance and active class participation, meeting class objectives and deadlines, and seeking academic help through the resources like the tutoring center. Additionally, students are encouraged to use and respond to their myOTC portal email, especially to contact their course instructor directly when a concern or questions relevant to class arises.
Students who are unable to actively participate in online class(es), are withdrawn from class(es) for non-participation.
Online dual credit students follow OTC’s Academic Calendar; meaning, when a student’s high school is not in session, OTC assignments are still due before the deadline. Carefully review the Important Online Dual Credit Information and How to be a Successful Online Learner before deciding to pursue online classes. View course options on our online class list.
OTC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommision.org), an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Our current accreditation status can be viewed here. Our next comprehensive evaluation will be in 2020-2021.
OTC participates in the CORE 42 Transfer Guarantee program. Most courses offered through OTC Dual Credit transfer to other public institutions in the state. The few courses that are not CORE 42, are noted in the class list within the enrollment steps. Math courses with a CORE 42 prerequisite (MTH 131 & MTH 140) will satisfy the math general education credit portion of CORE 42, but may not directly transfer to all four-year universities like other CORE 42 courses. Non-CORE 42 courses still have transfer agreements with other colleges and universities. Students are responsible for consulting with other college institutions about transfer policies. For more about these topics, visit Dual Credit Resources and Links.
Costs
An overview of costs and payments for families is provided on the About page.
See course options by school partner for the cost per class by approved courses and schools.
Payment Options
Some schools wish to cover the costs of dual credit. If so, schools may request, sign and return an optional financial agreement to allow OTC to bill the school directly instead of families. School partners can choose to cover classes and/or course materials for all students. OTC cannot partially bill a school district for some of its students. Schools interested in covering the costs for all students must complete a financial agreement with the dual credit office before enrollment begins. Signed and returned agreements are automatically valid for an academic year.
Schools that do not cover costs should direct families to the payment section on the About page.
Remuneration
OTC Dual Credit is the most inexpensive option and gives the most amount of funds back to our school partners, as compared to other colleges in the area. While OTC charges the least in the area at $57 a credit hour, we give the maximum back to high school partners at $25 a credit hour.
For the seated dual credit option only (courses taught at the high school with an OTC-approved instructor) OTC remunerates $25 per credit hour back to the partnering school district for each student who successfully completes the course offered. High School Partners determine how the funds are used locally. Some schools choose to use the funds to pay instructors for their instruction, to train-up instructors to become eligible to teach dual credit, for student scholarships, or for instructional costs like the purchasing of course materials for the dual credit class.
Online and live virtual course options are not eligible for remuneration.
See the section header of the same name under About Dual Credit for more information.
No matter the course learning format, high schools determine if course materials are the student and family’s responsibility or if the school covers the course materials costs.
For seated courses, with an approved high school instructor, the course materials used at high schools are either the same as those course materials used on campus (see OTC Bookstore verbacompare hyperlink below) or those deemed equivalent by the course department chair. High school personnel are responsible for obtaining special permission from course department chair for use of other materials than those required of students on campus. The department chair can provide one copy of the on-campus course material to the approved high school instructor. Otherwise, depending on the course materials format, schools can determine if students will receive access to an individual copy of the course materials (recommended) or if students will have access to a classroom set of the course material.
For online courses, with an OTC instructor, students same course materials as those used by other students in online courses with OTC.
Course materials information is listed twice within the steps to enroll as well as accessible through the student’s myOTC account and on the OTC Bookstore page (see hyperlink below). Within the admission steps, students can see approximate costs of course materials by class within step four and the hyperlink to online class list for dual credit, and enrolled students can use step five Obtain Course Materials for further directions on how to see course material information within the student’s myOTC account.
Use the OTC Bookstore site to see course materials information: https://otc.verbacompare.com/ In the drop down, select Springfield & Online, the semester, enter course code information, and then Compare Prices button.
Learn more about OTC’s AutoAccess program, for any courses with “AutoAccess” listed.
For course materials, individually or as a bundle, questions about electronic course materials, or for school paid purchase options, please use your enrolled student roster to contact gotts@otc.edu
While enrollment in OTC Dual Credit has grown each semester for the last several years, we are still accepting new school partners! Remember, OTC Dual Credit costs the least, gives the most back to school districts in remuneration ($25 per student who completes the course), and OTC credits transfer just as well if not better than our competitors!
Any school within the OTC Service Area can participate in OTC Dual Credit. Partnerships with schools outside our service area may be available upon request.
Follow the following steps to partner with OTC Dual Credit.
We hope to partner with you! If questions exist after reviewing the information provided, then please let us know at dualcredit@otc.edu
After a signed partnership agreement is provided (see How to Partner section), students can proceed with the steps below.
Once an agreement is signed, students and high school counselors should review the admission process. Deadlines for completion of enrollment by semester and learning format, are also posted on the admission process page. Please Note: OTC’s schedule may not align with the student’s high school academic calendar. All dual credit students are expected to abide by OTC policies and deadlines regardless of high school status.
Next, review OTC’s course options by school partner or the online course options to view dual credit course offerings. Then, complete registration using DualEnroll. Seated high school students must contact their school counselors to assist them with the enrollment process. Homeschool students who have never used DualEnroll should contact dualcredit@otc.edu for enrollment user guides.
Students are not enrolled until they receive a “confirmed enrollment” email from dualcredit@otc.edu
The dual credit office communicates a roster of enrolled students before enrollment deadlines, if students are enrolled. School partners can access their list of completed registrations using the DualEnroll ‘completed enrollments’ report.
We hope students are successful; However, if a student is considering dropping, we highly recommend they first review the drop deadline, refund schedule, the possible impact on financial aid in the section below, as well as discuss high school credits and graduation concerns with the school counselor at school and parents or guardians, before completing the process below.
All college credit activity is evaluated for the purpose of obtaining financial aid for college courses after high school graduation. Meaning, that activity in dual credit courses counts toward the student’s ability to obtain financial aid for college courses in future semesters. Evaluation for financial aid includes enrollment(s), dropping course(s), and all final letter grades earned. It is important that students make an informed decision regarding how dropping a class may impact their financial aid ability before dropping the course. Review the policy on our website before contacting financialaid@otc.edu office with any further questions.
The school counselor determines if the student is eligible to drop based on their graduation requirements at their high school. Students should request a drop via their DualEnroll account by clicking on the three ellipses next to the class on their registration activity page and selecting the “drop” option.
The number of classes students take in high school differs from the amount taken in college and the credits for each class differ as well. Most full-time high school students take 7 to 8 high school classes each semester. College students typically take less classes that are worth more credits. Four classes, or 12 college credits, is considered full-time in college. The average full-time college student takes four to five classes, or 12 to 15 credit hours, each semester.
Most first-time college students struggle with the differences in expectations, rigor, time commitment, and the level of independence and responsibility that comes with being in college, as opposed to their high school classes. Dual credit students often have to juggle more than high school and college classes. These students often participate in sports, clubs, and work as well.
Therefore, we recommend students start with two college classes, or 6 credit hours, their first semester. Students can take a maximum of four classes, or 12 credits, each semester. If students successfully complete 4 classes, or 12 college credits, with a 3.0 or higher GPA on their final grades, in a previous semester, they may enroll in 5 classes or 15 credits afterward. For more than five classes, or 15 credits, students will have to submit a time management plan, special permission from their parent and school counselor or principal to dualcredit@otc.edu, prior to enrollment. Students cannot take more than 18 credit hours in a semester.
While you (or a school representative) proctor online courses daily, the proctored event is a significant part of each online course with OTC. Here is some additional information to assist you with proctored events. Please review the Proctored Events at OTC guide for detailed instructions for each option to complete this requirement.
Overview:
Options & Process to Completion:
Infographics:
