Fifteen higher education institutions across Pennsylvania will share $14 million in grant funding to help high school students enroll in dual-credit programs, and some of that money is coming to IUP, Westmoreland County Community College and Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in Cambria County.
Dual credit programs, also called dual enrollment, allow students to take college level courses while still in high school, and earn credits for both high school and college. Acting Pennsylvania education Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe said that the programs give students a head-start on success in college and their future careers. The offerings are meant to improve academic achievement, high school graduation rates, college enrollment and college completion rates. The grant program was created in 2024 to provide funds for public colleges and universities to increase capacity to provide dual credit courses.
IUP will receive $808,454.13 from the Department of Education for the program. In a statement, university President Dr. Michael Driscoll congratulated Dr. Meghan Robb with the department of nursing and Dr. Lei Hao of the Department of Allied and Public Health who wrote the grant application. He said that this grant, along with the recent move to lower the cost of dual enrollment to $100 per credit starting last Fall allows for new opportunities for students who want to take part. 155 students took part in dual credit classes at IUP last fall.
WCCC and PA Highlands each received $1 million.
