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Dual Credit Program Admission for High School Students

DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley provides an opportunity for qualified high school students who are ready for university-level coursework to earn college credit while still in high school. The program is designed to give eligible high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn college credit in a university learning environment. Dual Credit students are graded in the same manner as other college students and are awarded college credit upon completion of their courses. It is the student’s responsibility to work with their high school counselor and/or school administrator to ensure the credit is transcribed accordingly on their high school transcript. 

For more information contact the Office of Secondary Educational Partnerships at (956)882-7732 or (956)665-3128. 

ON-CAMPUS ATTENDANCE OR DISTANCE LEARNING

Students admitted to the Dual Credit Program are eligible to take courses in-person at a UTRGV campus or online, both of which include course sections with the general student population at UTRGV. Seats in sections--whether in-person or online--are available on a first come, first served basis. Interested students are encouraged to apply for this program with ample time prior to the term in which they are interested.

Students must consult their high school counselors if interested in applying to this program. It is important for students to receive course recommendations from their high school counselors in order to ensure that enrollment in a UTRGV course does not interfere with the student's high school personal graduation plan. 

Students seeking Dual Credit opportunities with UTRGV will have an individual academic profile created based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to:

  • High School Class Rank
  • GPA
  • College Entrance Exams (SAT/ACT) (PSAT/ACT-PLAN)
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Community Involvement

Academic profiles are created with submitted documentation and admission decisions are based on that profile and accomplishments to date.

In order for students to apply to the program, the school district where they are enrolled must have a valid memorandum of understanding (MOU) on file with the University.

Interested students who wish to participate in Dual Credit must meet the following criteria:

  • Be classified as a Junior or Senior in High School
  • Be pursuing either the Foundation with Endorsement or Distinguished Diploma

Dual Credit students typically meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Rank in the Top 20% of their class
  • Have a GPA of 85 or higher
  • Achieve an ACT Composite of 20 or higher
  • Achieve an SAT Total of 1110 (EBRW & MATH combined) or higher

APPLICATION FOR DUAL CREDIT ADMISSION

To be admitted to the Dual Credit Program, students must submit the following documents by the published priority deadline for the semester for which they are applying:

  1.  Students must apply to UTRGV by submitting a Dual Credit application. The application is available at www.applytexas.org.
  2. Dual Credit Authorization Form signed by all parties
  3. High school transcript with anticipated diploma type, class rank and GPA (weighted and unweighted)  
  4. SAT or ACT Score (if used for meeting eligibility)
  5. College Transcripts (if applicable)

DOCUMENTS NEEDED AFTER ADMISSION

  1. For all students under 22 years of age, submit proof of Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination or exemption
  2. College Readiness (TSIA2*) test scores or proof of exemption

*Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA2) and/or course pre-requisites. Students will not be permitted to register for courses for which a required TSI score or course-prerequisite is not met. Should registration be processed without meeting a prescribed requirement, the course(s) in question may be dropped.

 

All admission documents for Dual Credit must be submitted through the University’s online document portal or in person at one of the Visitors Centers:

Student Services Bldg. First Floor
1201 West University Dr.
Edinburg, TX 78539

Or

Vaquero Plaza, Bldg. B
2395 W University Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78539
Brownsville, TX 78521

It is recommended that all documents be sent at one time. All documents submitted become the property of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Students must also meet the prerequisites for the course(s) in which they plan to enroll, if any exist.

To continue participating in the Dual Credit Program, participants must earn a grade of C or higher in each University course taken.

Upon graduation from high school, Dual Credit students must submit a final high school transcript indicating:

  1. The student’s graduation date and graduation diploma type.
  2. The student has earned all the credits required for high school graduation associated with diploma type.
  3. The student’s class rank and grade point average.

Dual Credit students who wish to continue their studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley after high school graduation will be considered for admission as Entering Freshmen.

For information on requirements and institutional support for dual credit students, visit the Dual Credit for High School website.