Dual Enrollment & Dual Credit
Southwest Baptist University offers two flexible ways for high school students to earn college credit: Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment. Learn more about each path and the different options available below.
Why Earn College Credit in High School?
When you complete a course through Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment at SBU, you’re not just getting ahead—you’re building your official college transcript. These credits:
- Count toward a future degree at SBU
- May transfer to other colleges and universities that accept SBU credit
- Help you qualify for the SBU Dual Credit Scholarship, available to students who earn at least 6 credit hours through SBU while in high school
Additional benefits include:
- Save money with lower tuition rates than traditional college courses
- Explore your interests before committing to a major
- Challenge yourself with college-level academics
- Learn from highly qualified instructors—dual credit teachers meet the same standards as SBU adjunct faculty
Talk to your high school counselor to get started or explore the options below.
What's the Difference
| Format | On-Site Dual Credit | Online Dual Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Location | At your high school | Online |
| Taught by | Your high school teacher (if SBU approved) | Qualified, faith-based college professors |
| Tuition cost | $75 per credit hour | $300 per course |
| Eligibility | Factors include GPA + grade level + course specific requirements | Must be current high school student |
Online Dual Enrollment
High school students who wish to take college credit while still in high school can take online dual enrollment courses through SBU Prep, a partnership between SBU and CampusEDU.
SBU Prep offers multiple college-level courses through an innovative and accessible online learning platform. Students can complete courses in 16 or 12 weeks, and you are able to sign up for as many courses as you think you can take at a time. Courses cost $300, and you can register through SBUprep.com.
These dual enrollment courses only offer credit from Southwest Baptist University. Students who want to pursue classes that earn dual credit from SBU and their high school can learn more about dual credit options below.
On-Site Dual Credit
Dual credit allows a student to earn both high school and college credit for the same course. Visit your school counselor to learn about available dual credit courses at your high school. More details about SBU's dual credit program are below.
To participate, students must meet certain academic requirements:
Grade Level & GPA
- 11th–12th grade
- 3.0 GPA = automatic eligibility
- 2.5–2.99 GPA = requires counselor or principal recommendation + parent permission
- 10th grade
- 3.0 GPA + counselor or principal recommendation + parent permission
- 9th grade
- 3.0 GPA + 90th percentile ACT/SAT + counselor recommendation + principal recommendation + parent permission
English & Math Course Requirements
- English
- ACT English score of 18+ or a B in a previous English course
- Math
- ACT Math 18+ or B in a previous math course for College Algebra (MAT 1243)
- Higher ACT scores required for Precalculus, Business Calculus, or Calculus I
ACT scores are accepted through October for fall courses and February for spring/yearlong courses. See Dual Credit Handbook for more information.
- Talk to your school counselor to see what courses are available.
- Wait for your counselor to send you the correct application link. (Using an old link may cause issues.)
- Complete the online application and submit any required forms.
- Watch for a payment email. This will be sent after your application has been verified with the school, which may take several weeks.
See Dual Credit Handbook for deadlines.
Course offerings vary by high school and semester. Only 1000- and 2000-level courses are eligible for dual credit. View the Undergraduate Course Catalog
Program Costs
- $75 per credit hour
- Free/Reduced Lunch Scholarship: Eligible students may take up to 6 credit hours per semester at no cost.
Payment Methods
- Online: Use the personalized link emailed to you after enrollment.
- Check: Payable to Southwest Baptist University. Include student name and “Dual Credit” in the memo.
Mail checks to:
Southwest Baptist University
Attn: Cashier
1600 University Ave
Bolivar, MO 65613
See the Dual Credit Handbook for payment deadlines and additional information.
To drop a course:
- Contact your counselor
- Complete the withdrawal form.
- Submit it to dualcredit@sbuniv.edu.
See the Dual Credit Handbook for deadlines.
- Official transcripts are available for $15 through the Registrar’s Office.
- Credits earned through SBU dual credit and dual enrollment are fully transferable to most colleges and universities in Missouri and beyond.
- Instructor Qualifications: Must meet Higher Learning Commission standards.
- Mentorship: Each instructor is assigned an SBU faculty mentor.
Are you interested in becoming a dual credit faculty affiliate? Contact Dr. Tim DeClue at tdeclue@sbuniv.edu.
For questions regarding applications, payments or dropping a class, or any other questions, please contact the Office of Dual Credit at dualcredit@SBUniv.edu.
Scholarship Opportunity
If you earn six or more hours of college dual credit through SBU, you may be eligible to receive a scholarship to SBU for your undergraduate studies.
Course Transfer Equivalencies
If you have taken general education dual credit courses at other regionally accredited institutions, those credits can transfer to Southwest Baptist University. SBU does not guarantee that non-general education courses will be accepted, but those courses can be reviewed on an individual basis by the area involved. Use our Course Transfer Equivalency Guide to determine if and how a course from another institution will transfer to SBU.