Area high schoolers saved nearly $670,000 in college tuition in 2024-25 school year

Nearly 900 local high school students earned more than 4,000 college credits through Nicolet College’s dual credit classes during the 2024-25 school year. In partnership with K12 school districts, students in dual credit classes complete college-level work while in high school at no cost to the students.  

Students saved nearly $670,000 in tuition from dual credit classes. 

Roughly half of the earned credits were in occupational areas, such as business, healthcare and welding. The remaining half were earned in general education areas, such as communication, math and social sciences.  

The number of students taking dual credit classes through Nicolet College has risen 43% since the 2022-23 school year, from 626 to 899. In the 2024-25 school year, 47 high school students earned a college credential by completing programs for nursing assistant, welding, metal fabrication, emergency medical technician, firefighter, or phlebotomy. 

Nicolet College offers three primary dual credit options: Start College Now, a program where students attend Nicolet College classes, taught by Nicolet instructors, on campus or online during the academic year. Another option is transcripted credit, which allows students to take college-level courses at their high school, taught by qualified high school instructors. A third option is contract courses, which are offered at a high school site and taught by Nicolet College instructors. 

“Our rural school districts face unique challenges in offering a variety of college-level coursework,” said Nathan Zorn, dual credit coordinator at Nicolet College. “It is truly rewarding to partner with so many amazing educators in our district and to help young people get a head start on their college and career ambitions.”