Ohio State Academy Program Pilots Online Courses

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The Ohio State Academy program is on the rise, experiencing a record year of giving students a leg up on their future and saving them money in the process.

2016 marked the first year the program implemented College Credit Plus, which allows qualified students the chance to enroll in online college courses. The program replaced the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program, which primarily delivered face-to-face instruction.

Students involved with College Credit Plus get a taste of their future in higher education before walking across the stage for their high school graduation. And the best part? The opportunity is offered at no cost to the student or their family.

With the help of the Office of Distance Education and eLearning, the program incorporated more technology in the classroom to increase online access for both students and instructors.

During the 2015 - 2016 academic year, over 560 students completed 189 distance learning, distance enhanced, and hybrid courses across six campuses. The participants excelled academically, earning grade point averages ranging from 3.26 to 3.52.

“Because of this opportunity, some students are entering college as freshmen with 30 credits already completed.” Cory Tressler, Associate Director of Learning Programs at the Ohio State University, said. “They are bettering their future and doing it for free.”

Over the course of the academic year, students earned 6401 credits through College Credit Plus and, even better, saved more than $1.8 million in college tuition.

“This is just the pilot year of the program, so these numbers are really promising.” Tressler shared. “It will be fun to watch these numbers grow.” 

While the program is currently in beginning stages, it is already on the rise. Applications and acceptances have been steadily increasing, as will our impact on affordability in higher education across the state.

Visit the Ohio State Academy program website to learn more.