High School Dual-Enrolled Students

Calvin College welcomes all high school and homeschool students to take courses at Calvin! This is an exciting opportunity to see what college courses are like at Calvin, earn college credit, and try out the Calvin College experience. Dually enrolled students at Calvin start their college transcript and get a head start on their college career. See below for more information!

Brief overview

• Complete an application and submit all application materials to admissions@calvin.edu.
  All material must be submitted before the first day of classes; incomplete applications will not be considered after classes have begun.
• You will be admitted to your requested course on a space-available basis
• Calvin Admissions will communicate to you the next steps before the first day of class

Further details

Summer 2017 - Special Information

High school students are welcome to dually enroll in Calvin's summer courses! The application material remains the same (see "Required Admissions Materials" tab below), and you can find what summer courses are available by visiting the Course Schedule.

Tuition for Summer Courses

Students that register for in-seat dual enrollment courses at Calvin may be eligible for four "no-cost" dually enrolled credits during the Summer I session. The Post-secondary Enrollment Options Act states "If 50 percent or more of the college class/term falls within the local district’s regular academic year (calendar), pupils must be allowed to enroll and receive tuition/fee support." So, if at least half of the Calvin course meets during your school district's regularly scheduled school year, the first four credits will fall under the no-cost tuition. If the majority of the class is scheduled for after the last day of your high school's classes, you will be charged the dually enrolled tuition rate of $395/credit hour.

Questions about tuition for dually enrolled summer courses can be directed to Paul Bylsma.

Required admissions materials

In order to be admitted as a dually-enrolled high school student at Calvin College, please complete the below items and have them sent to Calvin Admissions, either by email (admissions@calvin.edu), fax (616-526-6777), or mail (3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546).

All material must be submitted before the first day of classes; incomplete applications will not be considered after classes have begun. Dually enrolled students must begin classes on the first day. See when classes begin by viewing Calvin's Academic Calendar.

• Non-Degree Seeking Application (You will indicate your preferred course here)
• Copy of your high school transcript
• Letter of Recommendation from your guidance counselor, signed by your guidance counselor and principal. A new letter of recommendation is required for each semester you are dually-enrolled at Calvin. Must include the following:
  • Confirmation that the course for which you would like to register is not offered at your high school
  • Confirmation that you are capable of success in a college-level course
  • Permission for you to leave your high school campus to take a course on Calvin's campus
  • Verification that your preferred course is accepted by the Post-secondary Enrollment Options Act.
  • If you are enrolled in a public school, your school must verify that they will pay Calvin College at an amount no less than the published state reimbursement amount.
  • Your UIC (Unique Identification Code)

Sample text for guidance counselor letter of recommendation

Click to download a Microsoft Word version of this sample letter

This letter verifies that [high school] approves [grade]th grade student, [name], to dually enroll at Calvin College in a college class. [High school] verifies that [name] meets State requirements for reimbursementup to a published amount, as outlined in Public Act 160 of 1996 (The Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act). [Name] is eligible for dual enrollment because of the following reasons:

1. [High school] does not offer an equivalent course
2. [Name]'s test scores and previous course grades demonstrate a history of academic success
3. The scheduled time for [course] does not interfere with [name]'s schedule.
4. [Name] has permission to leave his/her high school campus to attend a course at Calvin College

Calvin College will not invoice the school or student any amount greater than the amount of the State's reimbursement for the first four dually-enrolled credits. Therefore, [high school] agrees to pay the amount of the State's reimbursement to Calvin College.

[Name]'s UIC is: xxxxxxxxx.

I, [Name]'s guidance counselor, confirm that all information is accurate.

Tuition rates

Homeschooled students or students not part of a school district

All students who are not part of a traditional school district (who do not have a UIC) will be charged at the following rate:

• $395/credit hour for the first 1-8 credits/semester
• $1180/credit hour for credits 9 and above

Students dually enrolled in an in-seat fall- or spring-semester course

Calvin College will offer the first four credit hours per semester free of charge to dually enrolled high school students during the fall or spring semester. The high school in which the student is enrolled must verify that the preferred course is acceptable through the State of Michigan's dual-enrollment reimbursement program. Registration is on a space-available basis as determined by the Registrar.

If the student is enrolled at a public school, the school must verify that they will pay Calvin College at an amount no less than the published state reimbursement amount. Calvin College will bill the school in that amount, which should be reimbursed by the State of Michigan via established budget reimbursement channels.

Students will be limited to four "no cost" credit hours per semester. Additional credits during the semester are available to dually enrolled students at the following tuition rate:

• $395/credit hour for 5-8 credits/semester
• $1180/credit hour for credits 9 and above

Billing process

Students Dually Enrolled in an Online Course

Michigan residents: You will receive an initial bill at the beginning of the semester. This bill does not reflect a reimbursement conribution from the State of Michigan, however, and does not represent your actual tuition charges. When the state contributes a pre-determined amount, you will receive a different tuition statement at a lesser amount.
Non-Michigan residents:You will receive a bill at the beginning of the semester that will include terms of payment.

Dually Enrolled Homeschooled Students or Students Without a UIC

You will receive a bill at the beginning of the semester that will include terms of payment.

Students Dually Enrolled on Campus During the Fall or Spring Semester

If the preferred course meets the requirements under the State of Michigan's dual-enrollment reimbursement program, you will not receive a bill. Students who enroll for over 4 credits or whose course does not meet State dual-enrollment requirements will be billed at the beginning of the semester at Calvin College's published dual-enrollment rates (above).

Suggested courses

These courses are often chosen for dual enrollment, but are not a comprehensive list. You can Search for courses to find all courses by term and subject.

• Chinese
• Classical Mythology (Classics 231)
• Computer Science
• Dutch
• English
• French
• Greek
• German
• Japanese
• Latin
• Math and Stats
• Spanish
• Speech Pathology and Audiology

Before registering for a language course, Calvin recommends taking the online language assessment. This assessment will take no longer than 30 minutes and will offer a course suggestion appropriate for your foreign language competence. Take the online language assessment!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am eligible for tuition-free credits?

If you are currently enrolled in a public or private high school and wish to come to Calvin's campus to take a course during the fall or spring semester, you may be eligible for tuition-free credits. Be sure to check the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act to see if your course qualifies!

If you want to take an online course, or if you do not have a UIC (given to students enrolled in a public or private school), you do not qualify for tuition-free credits.

Are the no-cost credits available each year, or each semester?

For those who qualify for no-cost credit hours, the policy is available each semester. Each eligible student (taking eligible classes) will qualify for four no-cost credit hours each semester, thus taking one no-cost course each semester.

Must I meet minimum GPA and test score requirements to dually enroll?

While Calvin College publishes minimum GPA and test score requirements for first-year and transfer student, no such requirements apply to dually enrolled students. However, each dually enrolled applicant must have his or her counselor verify on the letter of recommendation that the student is capable of success in a college course at Calvin. If the student's high school GPA does not indicate likelihood that the applicant will succeed in a rigorous collegiate class, we suggest waiting to register for dual enrollment.

How will I know when I am registered for my course(s)?

You will indicate which course(s) and section(s) you would like to register for on your application. When your application file is complete, the Calvin Admissions Office will register you for that course(s) on a space-available basis. Once you are registered, you will receive a letter in the mail that will notify you of your class meeting dates, times, and place. The Calvin College Registrar will be in touch regarding registration for future classes.

Refer to the Second Semester Registration menu for information about registering for spring semester courses if you are already registered for a fall course.

Are there any courses for which I may NOT register?

Senior capstone courses, or any course labeled 395, are not open to dually enrolled students. Additionally, students may not enroll in a classroom section of a course if they are not able to register for a corresponding lab section (if required). Calvin College suggests that dual enrollment applicants speak with the Registrar or their prospective professor if they are unsure if they are capable of success in that course.

For questions about the program