INDIANA EARLY COLLEGE CREDIT REPORT 2021
Summary
Giving all Hoosier students the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school has been a priority for Indiana for many years, whether through dual credit or Advanced Placement (AP).
These early college credit opportunities are an important tool to raise Indiana’s educational attainment. Indiana is currently at 48.5 percent of Hoosiers with a quality postsecondary credential. The state’s big goal is to reach at least 60 percent by 2025.
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education advocates the importance of students earning intentional early college credit. We know that when students take early college credit courses aligned to their goals after high school, they are well positioned for success in education and training after graduation.
The Commission’s most recent strategic plan, Reaching Higher in a State of Change, highlights several areas to strengthen Indiana’s early college credit landscape, including increasing the number of students earning intentional dual credit, ensuring academic coursework includes career relevance and encouraging more students to complete college on-time or early. This 2021 Early College Credit Report also offers recommendations based on the data and information presented in this report (see page 8).
This report focuses on students who graduated high school in Indiana in 2018. It provides updated data on topics such as:
- The number of Indiana high school graduates who earn early college credit and the type of credit they earn
- Student demographic breakdowns showing early college credit opportunities for students of color and from various socioeconomic backgrounds
- College persistence and success metrics for dual credit earners
- How long it takes students who earn early college credit to graduate from college
- Potential cost savings for students, families and the state of Indiana
- The impact of endorsed Early College High Schools
Source: Indiana Commission for Higher Education (2021). Early College Credit Report.