Tulsa Community College Seeing Drop In High School Students Taking Dual Credit

Tulsa Community College said they are seeing a drop in their enrollment numbers for high school students who are taking college courses. 

They are encouraging students to enroll. Dual Credit classes allow high school students to get both college and high school credit at the same time, but the college said they are seeing fewer students sign up this year. 

"So, when they get to a four-year institution, they transfer those credits, and they can take courses in their major sooner," said Mary Cantrell, Tulsa Community College.

Cantrell, the George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Chair for Concurrent Enrollment, said the COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on the program. 

"Like colleges and universities everywhere we are down a little bit in our enrollment," she said. 

Cantrell said with students juggling their high school calendars, and bouncing between in person and virtual learning, many are not signing up for classes at TCC. She is encouraging students to enroll. 

"I think, you know it's just a tough time to be a student right now," Cantrell said. 

Madelyn Crain is a senior at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs and takes classes at TCC. She said the dual credit program has helped her prepare for the future, and with the program being at no cost to students, she doesn't have to worry about paying for it. 

 "It's given me an idea of what college will be like and also given me a peace of mind when it comes to the financial side of it," Crain said. 

Crain said she's had to adapt to learning through COVID-19 and the college courses push her academically. 

"It provides that challenge that I know I need to motivate me," Crain said. 

TCC offers both in-person and online learning for the dual credit program.