Dual Credit at RVC
Become a Dual Credit/Enrollment Student
Students receive both high school and college credit for college-level courses that are successfully completed. Students may also choose to complete college courses for college credit only – this is considered “Dual Enrollment”. Dual credit options vary from school to school. Check with your high school about your options. Courses are offered at RVC locations. RVC tuition charges apply; families are responsible for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and transportation.
- Meet with your high school counselor to discuss class schedule.
- Complete the Rock Valley College Enrollment Information Form.
- Take the RVC ACCUPLACER Placement Test (photo ID required) OR submit ACT/ SAT scores (these scores may be accepted in place of the ACCUPLACER test).
- Call the Early College office at (815) 921-4080 to schedule an appointment with a Dual Credit Coordinator & Advisor.
- Complete the Dual Credit Agreement Form (under Resources & Forms) and submit it to the Early College office.
- Pay tuition and fees, and purchase books and supplies.
- Students under the age of 16 must meet special admission procedures to enroll in college level courses. Please follow instructions in the Early Enrollment Packet, or contact the Early College Office for more information.
- Courses taken for credit are part of the student’s permanent/official college transcript.
Benefits of Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment
- Students can get a head start on earning college credits while in high school.
- Allows for the possibility of:
- Early entry to college programs
- Eliminating the need to take a summer class in the future
- Helping students transfer or graduate college early
- Dual credit/dual enrolled students are Rock Valley College students.
- With complete information already on file, students can easily attend RVC after high school graduation to complete an Associate’s Degree.
- Associates of Arts (A.A.), Associates in Science (A.S.), and Associate of Engineering Science (A.E.S.) degrees prepare students for transfer to a 4 year college or university.
- Associates in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees and certifications prepare students to enter a career or technical field upon graduation from RVC.
- Many Rock Valley College credits with a grade “A”, “B”, or “C” can be transferred to another college or university.
- It is especially easy to transfer credits within Illinois since RVC is part of the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a joint transfer agreement between nearly 100 public and private Illinois colleges and universities.
- Students should contact their prospective universities to get more details about how their RVC credits will be transferred and accepted. Some universities may have specific information about which RVC classes to take as prerequisites for specific majors.
- With one of the lowest tuition rates in the state of Illinois, RVC can help students and families save money on college classes.
- Classes that transfer can help save even more money because they prevent students from having to pay full tuition rates for the same classes at their transfer institutions.