What is Dual Credit?

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dual credit celebrating 20 years logoCollege of Western Idaho's (CWI) Dual Credit program is part of a collaborative partnership between Idaho’s colleges, universities, and high schools to deliver college-level courses to high school students.

  • Dual credit classes give students the opportunity to receive both high school and college credits for pre-approved courses.
  • Students who register for dual credit classes receive a letter grade based on work completed during the duration of the class which will be reflected on a college transcript.
  • Dual credits are transferable to Idaho colleges and universities and many other institutions outside of the state.

  • Eligibility

    To take dual credit classes through CWI, students must: 

    • be at least 16-years old or have successfully completed at least one-half of the high school graduation requirements as certified by their local school district/home school administrator*
    • maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA
    • meet the prerequisites/placement requirements of a course or have instructor permission
    • obtain permission of high school administrative representative and signature of parent/guardian

    *Students under 16 or who have not completed half of their graduation requirements may still participate in the dual credit program by submitting the Sophomore by Exception form included within the Dual Credit Registration Packet.

  • Locations

    Choose to take dual credit classes on campus or online at CWI, at your high school, or through Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA).

    Classes at CWI

    Dual credit students may register for classes taught on campus or online at CWI. Classes taken at CWI are taught by CWI faculty alongside CWI students.

    • If you choose to take a dual credit class on the CWI campus, you will either be given permission from your high school to leave during the regular school day or attend classes in the evening. 
    • Dual credit classes must be confirmed with your high school counselor to ensure the class(es) fulfills your high school graduation requirements. 
    • Course delivery options include: 
      • On-Campus: Traditional, in-person classes are taught two days a week on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday for 75 minutes, or once a week for 150 minutes.
      • Hybrid: Hybrid classes meet one day a week for 75 minutes and include robust online interaction.
      • Online: Take advantage of online classes for added flexibility.

    HIGH SCHOOL Classes

    Dual credit classes taken at your high school will be taught by high school instructors who are certified to teach college-level classes and have aligned class content and curriculum with the same classes taught at the College.  

    IDLA Classes

    IDLA is a third-party platform that provides access to flexible, online dual credit and advanced placement classes beyond what many Idaho school districts can offer and are available to all students in Idaho.

    • Classes taken through IDLA allow students to earn college credit, graduate early, and recover credits. 
    • IDLA classes align to Idaho Core Content Standards and are facilitated by Idaho-certified, highly-qualified teachers.

    Learn More About IDLA

  • Cost

    TUITION & FEES

    • CWI dual credit classes cost $75 per credit regardless of the class, semester, or location.
    • The tuition and fees deadline for each semester is listed in the Important Dates section on the Dual Credit Registration page. 
    • There is not an application fee to register for dual credit classes.
    • Additional fees may apply for instructional support or course materials and are not covered by Advanced Opportunities funding. 

    RESIDENCY

    Residency for students utilizing Advanced Opportunities funding for dual credit classes is verfied through the Advanced Opportunities portal.

    Students NOT using Advanced Opportunities funding and who do NOT live in Ada, Bonneville, Canyon, Jerome, Twin Falls, or Kootenai county may request assistance with out-of-district tuition by submitting a Certificate of Residency to their county clerk. 

    • If verification is not received from the student’s county of residence, the student is responsible for out-of-district tuition and fees.
    • Idaho out-of-district students will need to complete a new Certificate of Residency form each academic year, and submit the form to the county in which they reside.

    CTE CLASSES

    Additional costs may apply to Career and Technical Education (CTE) dual credit classes to cover the cost of tools, uniforms, supplies, and any other fees associated with the CTE program in which they are enrolled.  

    Please contact a Dual Credit Transition Coordinator for more information about CTE classes and costs. 

    TEXTBOOKS

    • Textbooks may be provided to students taking dual credit classes at their high school. 
    • Students who complete classes on campus or online at CWI are responsible for purchasing textbooks which may be purchased at the CWI Bookstore. 
    • Advanced Opportunities funding does not cover the cost of books.

    View Payment Options

  • Financial Assistance

    Advanced Opportunities

    To support students in opportunities to earn college credit, Idaho’s Department of Education provides several programs through the Advanced Opportunities initiative. Through the initiative, students in grades 7 – 12 attending public school in Idaho are allocated $4,125 to use toward the cost of overload courses; dual credit classes; Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams; and professional certifications. 

    • Students may request up to $75 per credit. 
    • Advanced Opportunities funding does not cover the cost of textbooks or additional fees.
    • Funding may only be used for dual credit classes taken while in high school.  

    Students who are NOT using Advanced Opportunities funding AND do not live in Ada, Jerome, Kootenai, Twin Falls, Bonneville, or Canyon counties must complete a Certificate of Residency and return to the County Clerk’s office for processing. The county clerk will then attempt to certify the student's legal residency. If this does not occur, the student will be responsible for paying the county portion of any tuition charges.

    For more information regarding Advanced Opportunities funding, please contact your school counselor who can help you decide which classes to take and complete any necessary paperwork. 

    Apply for Advanced Opportunities 

    Student Opportunities Assistance Program

    Students not attending an Idaho public school in grades 7 – 12 may be eligible for a reimbursement up to $750 to use toward dual credit classes and/or specified exams.  

    Apply for Assistance

  • Explore Programs

    Taking dual credit classes through CWI can help you meet education requirements for many of the College's degree and certificate programs, including the General Education Academic Certificate. Offered in a wide variety of academic and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, CWI's dual credit classes allow you to find what interests you.

    Academic Programs

    Career & Technical Education Programs

    Learn About Technical Competency Credit

  • Search for Classes

    Curious which classes are available at CWI, when a particular class is offered, or if you meet the prerequisites? 

    Currently-enrolled students may search for classes in the Course Catalog section of the Self-Service Toolkit on myCWI. 

Contact Us

Want to learn more about dual credit opportunities at College of Western Idaho (CWI)? Our team of coordinators and advisors can help you: 

  • explore programs, classes, and career paths
  • create an educational plan to reach your goals
  • and more!

Dual Credit Advising & ResourcesContact Dual Credit

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Dual Credit?

    Dual credit is a program that allows high school students to enroll in college courses for credit prior to high school graduation. College credits earned through dual credit can be applied toward high school and college graduation and can be transferred to other colleges or universities. College courses can be completed at the high school, on the CWI campus or online.

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  • What are the differences between the Dual Credit Program and the Advanced Placement Program (AP)?

    CWI's Dual Credit Program refers to classes offered to high school students for both high school and CWI college credit. Students participating in dual credit classes receive college credit for specific courses offered at their high school or courses taught on a CWI campus or online.

    Students who take dual credit courses will receive a CWI transcript with an actual letter grade for the course based on work completed during the duration of the class. Students can request that their transcript be sent to the college or university of their choice. Credits are transferable.

    The Advanced Placement (AP) program provides college credit based on performance on a cumulative exam administered in May. For exam scores of 3, 4 or 5 some colleges/universities award credit or waive a specific course. For some courses with labs, the college or university will only accept the lecture portion. For AP courses, no course grade or transcript is generated. Once the course is completed, students may choose to request that AP test scores be sent to their chosen college.

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  • What is my status at CWI when I register for dual credit?

    You are an officially registered, non-degree-seeking, dual credit student of College of Western Idaho when you are enrolled in a dual credit course. You are subject to CWI's regulations including those for plagiarism, academic honesty, code of conduct, registration, tuition payment and withdrawal deadlines. To become a degree-seeking student, you must apply for undergraduate admission.

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  • Are credits earned through the CWI Dual Credit Program transferable to other colleges and universities?

    CWI dual credits are accepted by all Idaho institutions of higher education. They are guaranteed to transfer, but not guaranteed to apply to your major. Please consult with the school(s) you wish to attend regarding the transferability of any college credits earned. 

    CWI is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The NWCCU is a regional postsecondary accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; therefore most other colleges and universities nationwide will accept CWI credits. Again, please consult with the school(s) you wish to attend regarding the transferability of any college credits earned.

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  • Which campus resources are available to me as a Dual Credit student?

    As long as you are enrolled in courses at College of Western Idaho, whether on the CWI campus, online or at the high school you have full access to the same resources that other students have.  For a full list of resources please visit the Student Resources page.

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  • If I want to attend CWI after graduation from high school, what do I need to do?

    Please visit the Student Resources/Transfer page for information on attending College of Western Idaho or transferring to another institution.

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  • How do I request official transcripts?

    Once grades are submitted, you can request official transcripts. Students can request official transcripts through the Student ClearingHouse or download their transcripts through their MyCWI accounts beginning fall semester of 2014. The cost for requesting a transcript through MyCWI is $7.00.

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