
A new report from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education shows nearly two-thirds of high school students earn early college credit.
The commission released its biennial Early College Credit Report this week, finding that 64% of high school students who graduated in 2018 earned early college credit creating a combined potential economic impact of $160 million annually for the state and its students.
The report also found students are earning more credit than before, with students in 2018 receiving 13.5 credits on average compared to less than an average of less than 10 credits reported five years ago.
The report also shows students who earn dual credit are more likely to stay in college and graduate on time or early.
“The data continue to tell a powerful story about the value of these early college credit opportunities for Hoosier students and families,” Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers said in a news release. “Students who earn college credit in high school — through dual credit, AP or both — are more likely to pursue education and training after graduation, more likely to be successful in college, and can save thousands of dollars in tuition and fees.”
However, the report also draws attention to gaps among dual credit earners.
Only 38% of Black students and 50% of Hispanic/Latino students earn dual credit compared to 65% of white students, according to the commission. Gaps also exist among socioeconomic status and regions of Indiana.
To help close these gaps, the state is offering free tuition to high school educators in its Teach Dual Credit Indiana and STEM Teach Indiana programs to help teachers earn full credentials required to teach dual credit classes, expanding opportunity to students. These programs will also help teachers meet new requirements set to take effect in September 2023, according to the Commission for Higher Education.
“While this report makes clear the reasons earning college credit in high school is a wise choice for many students and families, it also highlights the areas where we must improve,” Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said in the release.
“Looking ahead, the Indiana Department of Education will be focused on supporting schools by strengthening student transitions from high school to college and careers, closing equity gaps to ensure all students have the access to and benefit of the opportunities, and giving students a head start on their goals by helping more graduation with a postsecondary credential.”
State officials say the 2021 Early College Credit Report backs investments Indiana’s public education institutions have made in dual credit offerings.
In 2018, the state’s public institutions provided $9.4 million in waivers for students to enroll in dual credit courses for just $25 per credit hour, according to the Commission for Higher Education.
Ivy Tech Community College, which waives the $25 fee for all students, provided more than half of Indiana’s dual credit in 2018, according to the commission.
Students’ engagement in early credit programs saved roughly $82 million in potential tuition costs in 2018, according to the report, and helped the state save nearly $78 million in appropriations.
More information about the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s 2021 Early College Credit Report is available at www.che.in.gov/reports.
Downtown Griffith

Taxidermy raccoons with Cracker Jack boxes are a longtime gimmick produced at American Natural Resources.
Downtown Griffith

Greg Kelley, worker at G&G Hobbies in Griffith, takes a customer’s phone call at the store.
Downtown Griffith

Billy Ozzello is the owner of Billy O's Dynamite Music in Griffith.
Downtown Griffith

Southbound traffic travels by Griffith Billards on Broad Street.
Hammond/Munster, basketball

Munster’s Jeremiah Lovett looks to pass as Hammond’s, from left, Julius Byrd, Harold Woods and Darrell Reed defend Thursday night in nonconference play at Munster.
Hammond/Munster, basketball

Hammond’s Darrell Reed looks to shoot as Munster’s Clayton Bubash defends Thursday night at Munster.
Hammond/Munster, basketball

Munster’s Jeremiah Lovett takes an assist from Luka Balac and heads toward the basket as Hammond’s Reggie Abram defends Thursday night at Munster.
Hammond/Munster, basketball

Hammond’s Harold Wood defends against Munster’s Jeremiah Lovett Thursday night in Munster.
Crown Point at Chesterton

Chesterton's Chris Mullen thwarts Crown Point's attempt at the loose ball in the first quarter at Chesterton High School on Friday.
Crown Point at Chesterton

Crown Point's Drew Adzia loses the ball as he rolls over Chesterton's Luke Lombardini in the fourth quarter at Chesterton High School on Friday.
Crown Point at Chesterton

Chesterton's Chris Mullen and Crown Point's David Brown battle for the rebound in the first quarter at Chesterton High School on Friday.
Crown Point at Chesterton

Chesterton's Charlie Eaton takes an off balance shot after being fouled by Crown Point's Jake Oostman in the first quarter at Chesterton High School on Friday.
COVID 19 vaccinations, Porter County

RN Emily Gilliana waits for her next patient as she and several others administer COVID vaccines at Porter County's COVID vaccine site.
COVID 19 vaccinations, Porter County

People leave the Porter County Expo Center after receiving a vaccination for COVID-19.
COVID 19 vaccinations, Porter County

John Pontrelli, of Valparaiso, gets his first vaccination for COVID-19 from registered nurse Emily Gillian at the Porter County Expo Center, Porter County's COVID vaccine site.
COVID 19 vaccinations, Porter County

Seniors and front line workers who have received the COVID 19 vaccination wait 15 minutes in an observation area at the Porter County Expo Center, Porter County's COVID vaccine site.
Martin Luther King Summit

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are made to be distributed to residents of a pair of local homeless shelters as part of The annual Martin Luther King Summit.
Martin Luther King Summit

Michael Gonzalez, right, assists siblings Addison, 10, left, and Antwan, 15, Jordan as they assemble mini first aid kits.
Martin Luther King Summit

Gary Mayor Jerome Prince and his wife DeAnna prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that will be distributed to a pair of shelters in Gary.
Martin Luther King Summit

Andreana Gonzalez, center, is joined by her children Mateo, 10, left, and Anaïs, 12, as they prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that will be distributed to a pair of shelters in Gary.
East Chicago hosts 21st Century, boys basketball

EC Central's Kaprice Cotton, left, works for a loose ball against 21st Century’s Quintin Floyd Friday night at East Chicago.
East Chicago hosts 21st Century, boys basketball

Quintin Floyd, of 21st Century, drives toward the basket drawing a foul from EC Central's Kaprice Cotton Friday night in East Chicago.
East Chicago hosts 21st Century, boys basketball

EC Central’s Derrius Ross grabs his own rebound as 21st Century’s Takari Jones defends Friday night at East Chicago.
East Chicago hosts 21st Century, boys basketball

EC Central’s Keontay Andrews is looks to shoot as 21st Century’s Demetrius Moss defends Friday night at East Chicago.
Boys Basketball: Lake Central at Valparaiso

Valparaiso's Mason Jones, left, and Lake Central's Nate Oakley vie for a rebound.
Boys Basketball: Lake Central at Valparaiso

Valparaiso's Grant Comstock, right, pulls down a rebound.
Boys Basketball: Lake Central at Valparaiso

Valparaiso's Rowland Sorrick pauses before going up for two points.
Boys Basketball: Lake Central at Valparaiso

Valparaiso's Mason Jones is sandwiched by Lake Central's Jaiden Clayton, left, and Jack Mahoney.
Felix “Flex” Maldonado, mural of Michael Jordan

Felix Maldonado leaps for the ball in front of the the mural he painted on OJ's Game Over bar in East Chicago depicting Michael Jordan taking the shot to beat the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals.
Felix “Flex” Maldonado, mural of Michael Jordan

Felix “Flex” Maldonado poses in front of a mural he painted of Michael Jordan hitting the shot that beat the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA finals on the side of the OJ’s Game Over bar on Indianapolis Boulevard in East Chicago.
Felix “Flex” Maldonado's mural of Michael Jordan

Felix Maldonado's mural of Michael Jordan hitting a championship winning shot takes up a full side of OJ's Game Over sports bar in East Chicago.
Girls PCC tournament final - Kouts vs. South Central

South Central's Olivia Marks, center, tries to put back a rebound as she's guarded by Kouts' Emma Garavalia, left, and Lyndsey Kobza on Friday during the PCC girls tournament title game in Union Mills.
Girls PCC tournament final - Kouts vs. South Central

Kouts' Allison Capouch grabs a rebound on Friday during the PCC girls tournament title game in Union Mills.
Girls PCC tournament final - Kouts vs. South Central

South Central players celebrate their PCC tournament victory over Kouts on Friday in Union Mills.
Girls PCC tournament final - Kouts vs. South Central

South Central's Lillian Tolmen, center, cuts past Kouts' Emma Garavalia, left, and Allison Capouch on Friday during the PCC girls tournament title game in Union Mills.
Kouts/Boone Grove, Porter County Conference tournament championship

Kouts’ Cooper Schoon looks to shoot as Boone Grove’s Daekwon Coleman, left, and Nate Krause defend in the Porter County Conference tournament championships Saturday night at Boone Grove.
Kouts/Boone Grove, Porter County Conference tournament championship

Boone Grove’s Trey Steinhiber shoots as Kouts’ Hunter Kneifel defends during the Porter County Conference tournament championships Saturday night at Boone Grove.
Kouts/Boone Grove, Porter County Conference tournament championship

Boone Grove’s Trey Steinhiber shoots as Kouts’s Hunter Kneifel defends during the Porter County Conference tournament championships Saturday night at Boone Grove.
Kouts/Boone Grove, Porter County Conference tournament championship

Kouts’s Noah Young celebrates after the Mustangs beat Boone Grove’s Wolves in the Porter County Conference tourney championship Saturday night at Boone Grove.
The Northwest Crossroads Conference swimming and diving championships

Munster’s Griffin Poulsen swims in the 200-yard freestyle Saturday during the Northwest Crossroads Conference swimming and diving meet at Hobart.
The Northwest Crossroads Conference swimming and diving championships

Munster’s Griffin Poulsen prepares to leave the starting blocks in the 200-yard freestyle relay Saturday during the Northwest Crossroads Conference swimming and diving championships at Hobart High School.
The Northwest Crossroads Conference swimming and diving championships

Lowell’s Jaxon Skinner won the 100-yard backstroke Saturday during Northwest Crossroads Conference swimming and diving championships at Hobart High School.
The Northwest Crossroads Conference swimming and diving championships

Swimmers approach the starting blocks for the second heat of the 100-yard breaststroke in the Northwest Crossroads Conference swimming and diving championships Saturday at Hobart High School..
West Side at Valparaiso boys basketball

West Side's Israel Hines, left, guards Valparaiso's Breece Walls on Saturday in Valparaiso.
West Side at Valparaiso boys basketball

Valparaiso's Mason Jones, center, gets a rebound over West Side's Quimari Peterson on Saturday in Valparaiso.
West Side at Valparaiso boys basketball

Valparaiso cheerleaders raise their hands as the Vikings take a pair of free throws on Saturday in Valparaiso.
West Side at Valparaiso boys basketball

Valparaiso's Colton Jones, center right, reacts heading into a timeout on Saturday in Valparaiso.
Crown Point vs Andrean girls basketball

Crown Point's Alyvia Santiago takes a 3-pointer.
Crown Point vs Andrean girls basketball

Andrean's Tori Allen, left,and Crown Point's Alyna Santiago chase a loose ball.
Crown Point vs Andrean girls basketball

Crown Point's Alyna Santiago and Andrean's Lauryn Swain chase a loose ball.
Crown Point vs Andrean girls basketball

Crown Point's Jessica Carrothers, center, gets tangled up with Andrean's Tori Allen, left, and Abbi Foster on Saturday.