College Credit Plus Program Saves Students Time and Money

NELSONVILLE, Ohio—With the help of Ohio’s College Credit Plus program Marisa McClain was able to transition from high school to college without relocating or accumulating massive amounts of student loan debt.

A graduate of Alexander High School in Albany, Marisa first learned of the program when her sister started the program as a junior in high school. Although Marisa had initially envisioned herself attending an out-of-town college, her sister’s positive experience inspired her to follow in her academic footsteps.

Soon after Marisa started taking CCP classes at Hocking College, she realized she could get the same education for far less money and in far less time.

How did her CCP classes differ from her high school classes?

Marisa said that her college classes were more demanding in some ways than her regular high school classes. In each class, she had to complete 6-7 assignments that were due at the end of each week.

However, since some of Marisa’s classes were online, she had plenty of time to get her assignments done. The online courses made it possible for Marisa to earn college credits and hold down three different jobs.

Although she was still technically a high school student, Marisa found it easy to establish connections with her fellow college students — many of whom she now considers friends.

How did Marisa benefit from taking CCP classes?

Her decision to take CCP classes enabled Marisa to graduate from high school a year ahead of schedule.

She plans to return to Hocking College in the spring to earn more credits and pursue a real estate certificate from the college.

Marisa thinks all high school students should consider taking CCP at Hocking College.

“The classes are very one-on-one, and relationships with the professors are often created within a few days of being in the class,” she said.

How does CCP work?

CCP is a dual enrollment program that allows students in grades 7-12 to earn high school and college credits simultaneously.

CCP classes are offered in a variety of ways. Some can be taken at your high school while others are offered online or in-person at Hocking College. Students from anywhere in the state can take CCP classes through Hocking College.

The program helps students get a head start on their college careers before graduating from high school. They can choose from several career tracks or the Ohio Transfer Module, which allows students to take courses that transfer to other colleges and universities in Ohio as a block of general education classes that can be used toward a bachelor’s degree.

Some students can earn an associate degree by the time they graduate from high school, allowing them to save money on tuition and textbooks while giving them a quicker route toward a college degree. Some students who enroll in the program are able to satisfy their high school credits with college-level general education courses and never have to physically attend classes at their high school.

The program is available for public and private school students; homeschooled students can also apply. The program is free to all public school students in Ohio. Private and homeschooled students can apply to the Ohio Department of Education for funding.

To be accepted to the program, a student must have an overall GPA higher than 3.0 or take a placement test administered on the Hocking College campus.

How can I find out more about CCP?

Registration for Autumn 2020 CCP classes at Hocking College is still possible.

To learn how you can apply for CCP classes at Hocking College or for more information about the program, contact College Credit Plus Director Katie Walters by email at waltersk@hocking.edu or by phone at 740-753-6083.

You can also visit Hocking College’s CCP webpage for more information.