Dual Credit FAQ's

Dual credit courses are academic or technical college classes. Students must meet specific prerequisites, minimum placement scores on either the Accuplacer, SAT, or ACT (where applicable), or minimum GPA requirements (where applicable) to enroll. Because requirements vary by subject, please consult the VU Dual Credit Crosswalk available on our website or speak with our office or your high school guidance counselor.

VU offers a wide array of both Liberal Arts (general education) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. Many of these courses are listed on Indiana’s Core Transfer Library. This website identifies courses pre-approved for transfer between all Indiana public college and university campuses, as well as five independent institutions (assuming adequate grades are earned).

Note on Eligibility and Availability: The VU Dual Credit Crosswalk on our website is a master list showing which courses are available to be offered for dual credit through VU, it does not show what is currently being offered at your specific high school. To find out exactly which dual credit classes are available at your specific site, please contact your high school guidance department or the VU Dual Credit Office.

• Standard Dual Credit Tuition: VU dual credit courses are offered at a deeply discounted rate - currently just $25 per credit hour - offering substantial savings compared to traditional on-campus tuition.
• Project EXCEL vs. Early College Billing: Depending on how your high school administers its VU partnership, billing is handled in one of two ways:
  
  • Direct Billing: Tuition and fees are billed directly to the student and family through their online VU account.
  • Third-Party Billing: The high school or school district pays the fees directly to VU, so families will not receive a bill from the university.
• CTE Fee Waivers: Many Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses qualify for fee waivers, meaning the $ 25-per-credit-hour tuition fee may be completely waived for eligible high school students.
• Free & Reduced Lunch Tuition Waiver: Students who qualify for the National Free and Reduced School Lunch Program are eligible for a complete waiver of the $25-per-credit-hour tuition fee.

Because tuition structures depend entirely on your specific high school and the courses you choose, costs can vary. To find your exact out-of-pocket total before registering, please reach out to:

• Your High School Guidance Office: They can confirm your school's specific program structure and whether you qualify for waivers.
• The VU Dual Credit Office: Available to help verify any remaining tuition details or billing questions. VU Dual Credit Office can be reached via email at VUDualCredit@vinu.edu

Qualifications vary based on the specific course you want to teach:

• Liberal Arts Courses: A master’s degree in the specific discipline, OR any master’s degree plus 18 graduate credit hours in the specific discipline.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Courses: Credentials vary by program. Some areas require a bachelor’s degree plus industry experience, while others require an associate degree and experience. Approvals can also be based on a unique combination of formal education, professional licensures, industry certifications, and hands-on work experience.

Provisional Eligibility via an Education Plan: If a prospective teacher does not yet fully meet these traditional requirements, they may still be eligible to teach through an approved VU Dual Credit Instructor Education Plan. This provides instructors (for both Liberal Arts and CTE courses) with a pathway to teach while actively completing their remaining required graduate hours or credentials on a structured timeline.

We treat our dual credit instructors as an extension of our campus faculty. Once approved, you can expect:

• A Dedicated Faculty Liaison: A VU campus content expert assigned to you to serve as a resource for curriculum, course goals, and objectives.
• Curriculum Orientation: A mandatory initial meeting on the VU campus with your liaison to review the syllabus, textbooks, course outcomes, and assessments.
• Administrative Orientation: A session with VU Dual Credit staff covering the logistics of running the course (student enrollment, drop windows, and final grade submission).
• Classroom Visits: Your liaison will visit your classroom during your first year and periodically thereafter to offer feedback, support, and encouragement.
• Annual Professional Development: Required annual PD sessions held every October/November (offered either in-person or online).

Digital Resource: All content reviewed during both the curriculum and administrative orientations will remain readily available online. You can access these materials at any time in your designated Blackboard account  via the VU-x Portal.

School corporations are responsible for purchasing the required textbooks and materials. Because these courses are part of the college-level curriculum, school districts may pass on part or all of these textbook fees to the participating student and family.

To source these materials, school corporations may order textbooks directly through the VU Old Post Bookstore or work through the textbook publisher or company they currently use.

• Strict Enrollment Deadlines: Students seeking VU dual credit must officially register for the course at the beginning of the semester. Registration will not be permitted after the established deadline under any circumstances.
• No Retroactive Credit: Dual credit cannot be awarded retroactively. Students cannot opt into VU credit at the end of the term if they choose not to take the AP exam or fail it.
• Independent Evaluation: A student's VU grade is determined entirely by their performance in the class, in accordance with university grading standards. It is completely independent of their final score on the AP exam.

To ensure a seamless partnership and protect your students' academic standing, please prioritize the following operational requirements:

• Maintain Regular Email Correspondence: Email is the primary and official channel used by the VU Dual Credit Office to communicate with high school instructors and administrators. Missing an email means missing vital operational updates. Please monitor your inbox regularly for time-sensitive instructions.
• Registration and Drop Deadlines are Absolute: Because these are official college courses governed by university policy, all enrollment, withdrawal, and drop deadlines are strict and non-negotiable. Late submissions cannot be processed. Mark your calendars at the start of each semester to avoid administrative errors.
• Utilize the Crosswalk for Academic Prerequisites: The VU Dual Credit Crosswalk is your official master reference. While it does not list individual high school schedules, you must consult it to verify accurate course numbers, strict prerequisite requirements, and state transferability rules.