Earn College Credit Through Dual Enrollment Opportunities at SVSU

Dual Enrollment offers students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school, providing both academic and financial advantages. Benefits include:

• Get a head start on college: Earn credits that may apply toward a college degree before graduating from high school.
• Experience college-level coursework: Develop the study habits, time management, and critical thinking skills needed for success in college.
• Save time and money: Earning credits early may reduce the number of courses needed after high school, potentially lowering overall college costs.
• Explore academic interests: Take courses in subjects that align with future majors or career goals.
• Strengthen college applications: Demonstrate readiness for college-level work and a commitment to academic achievement.
• Become familiar with the college environment: Gain confidence by experiencing college expectations, resources, and support services before enrolling full-time.

Dual Enrollment can help students make a smoother transition from high school to college while accelerating progress toward their educational goals.

In many cases, Dual Enrollment credits can transfer to other colleges and universities, but the transferability of credits is always determined by the receiving institution. Transfer policies vary by school, program, and major.

Students should work with their high school counselor and Samantha VanHorn at smvanhor@svsu.edu or (989) 287-9166 to select courses that align with their future educational goals. Before enrolling, students are encouraged to contact the college or university they plan to attend to verify how credits will transfer and apply toward degree requirements. The Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) may also help students maximize the transferability of eligible general education courses.

These programs allow high school students to earn college credit while completing their high school education, but they differ in how and where courses are offered:

• Dual Enrollment: Students take college courses through SVSU, either on SVSU's campus or online, while still enrolled in high school.
• Concurrent Enrollment: Students take SVSU courses taught at their high school, typically by a qualified high school instructor, and earn both high school and college credit.
• Early College: Students follow a structured program that may extend high school by an additional year, allowing them to earn significant college credit — often up to an associate degree or other credential — before graduating.

Students should work with their high school counselor to determine which option is available and best fits their academic goals.

To support academic success, SVSU recommends that dual enrollment students in 11th or 12th grade have a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5. Each application is reviewed individually based on the courses the student wishes to take. Students who show the ability to succeed in courses with prerequisites may be considered for prerequisite waivers.

Application Requirements

To apply for dual enrollment, students must submit:

• A completed Dual Enrollment Application (required each academic year)
• An official high school transcript
• A signed Parent/Guardian Consent Form
• A signed High School Authorization Form
• No application fee is required

Students may enroll in up to three courses per semester, pending approval from both their high school counselor and SVSU’s Office of Admissions. Students who wish to take more than three classes may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Important: A new High School Dual Enrollment Form and an updated high school transcript must be submitted each academic year a student wishes to enroll.

How to Apply

1. Complete and submit the Dual Enrollment Application.This form must be submitted for each academic year you wish to enroll. 

Plan ahead. On the Dual Enrollment Application, you will be asked to provide:

• an email address and phone number for your parent or guardian
• an email address for your high school counselor or administrator in charge of dual enrollment at your high school
• a list of classes that you would like to enroll in at SVSU

2. Complete and submit the Parent/Guardian Consent Form.

Once the student submits their Dual Enrollment Application, the parent/guardian will automatically receive an email within 24 hours. This will include a secure link to an electronic consent form.

3. Complete and submit the High School Authorization Form.

Once the student submits their Dual Enrollment Application, the high school counselor or administrator will automatically receive an email within 24 hours. This will include a secure link to an electronic authorization form.

4. Request an official high school transcript

High School counselors will be able to upload a copy of your transcript directly on their High School Authorization Form. If that is unavailable, the counselor can email a copy directly to the SVSU Admissions Office at transcripts@svsu.edu.

5. Submit a copy of your SAT or ACT scores (if taken)

• SAT/ACT scores are not required, but they can be added to your file as additional support.
• Official scores may be submitted through CollegeBoard.org or ACT.org.
• Unofficial score reports are also accepted if your full name is clearly visible. These can be emailed to transcripts@svsu.edu.

Note: If you plan to dual enroll for more than one semester, you must submit a new Dual Enrollment Form and an updated transcript for each additional academic year.

Important Registration Deadline:
All dual enrollment paperwork must be submitted and processed before the first day of the semester you plan to enroll. SVSU cannot accept any dual enrollment registrations after the semester begins.

Questions?
Contact Samantha VanHorn: Call/Text (989) 287-9166 or smvanhor@svsu.edu

What to Do After Being Accepted to SVSU

Once accepted as a dual enrollment student, you will receive an admission letter by mail that includes your SVSU student ID number and username. This information is used to activate your SVSU email and access your online student account through MySVSU.

Account activation is important!
You’ll use your SVSU account to receive official communications and pay any remaining balance not covered by your high school.

Need help with your student account or password setup?
Contact the SVSU ITS Support Center at: (989) 964-4225 or Toll-Free: (866) 827-4357

Saginaw Valley State University offers a lower cost of tuition for high school dual enrollment courses so that in most cases, your tuition costs will be covered by your school district through state funding.

Your first step is to talk to your high school counselor and find out if your school or district has an existing agreement with SVSU, and if not, what your school or district covers for dual enrollment courses. 

Once you are enrolled at SVSU, a scholarship will be automatically applied to your account that will reduce your cost to the per-pupil funding rate (or approximately 50% of full tuition). SVSU will bill the school district following the per-pupil funding allowance spreadsheet provided by the Michigan Department of Education once the semester has begun.

If there is an additional balance, it is your responsibility to cover the remaining costs. Any remaining balance will appear on your account on your SVSU student portal and payment can be made there. Instructions will be sent once you are admitted to SVSU. 

Most Dual Enrollment students choose courses that fulfill general education requirements and are commonly required by colleges and universities. Popular options include English Composition, College Algebra, Psychology, U.S. History, Biology, Sociology, Communication, and foreign language courses.

Course selection should align with a student's academic interests, future major, and college goals. Students are encouraged to work with their high school counselor and Samantha VanHorn at smvanhor@svsu.edu or (989) 287-9166 to choose courses that best fit their educational plans and maximize transferability.

At SVSU, students may take up to three Dual Enrollment courses per semester, provided they meet all eligibility requirements and receive the necessary approvals from their high school and parent or guardian. Course selection should be based on the student's academic readiness, schedule, and long-term educational goals. Students are encouraged to work closely with their high school counselor when choosing courses.

The length of a Dual Enrollment course depends on the course format and schedule. Most SVSU courses follow a traditional college semester and typically last 15–16 weeks. Because college and high school academic calendars may differ, Dual Enrollment courses may begin or end at different times than a student's high school classes.

Students should review course schedules carefully and plan accordingly with their high school counselor and Samantha VanHorn at smvanhor@svsu.edu or (989) 287-9166.

Students earn college credit by successfully completing their Dual Enrollment courses and meeting the course requirements. In most cases, a grade of C or higher is needed for the credit to be considered transferable, although transfer requirements vary by institution.

Once completed, the course and grade are recorded on an official SVSU transcript. Students can request transcripts to be sent to other colleges or universities when applying or transferring credits.

Course Eligibility

Prior to enrollment, a representative from SVSU’s Office of Admissions will review each student’s:

• High school transcript
• SAT or ACT scores (if submitted)
• Other supporting application materials

This review helps determine eligibility for the courses the student wishes to take. If more information is needed, SVSU may contact the student and/or their high school counselor.

Note: While most prerequisite courses are not required for dual enrollment, students are expected to understand any foundational material covered in those prerequisites before enrolling in an advanced course.

Some courses may require special permission from the instructor—students will be notified if this is necessary.

Course Information for Each Semester

• Use the SVSU Course Lookup Tool to see what courses are being offered during each semester.
• View Important Semester Dates to see the start and end dates of the semester, withdraw deadline dates, final exam dates, and holidays/breaks.

Interested in completing your general education courses?

• Please review SVSU’s general education requirements at this link. Each section outlines the number of courses required.

Important Registration Deadline

• All dual enrollment paperwork must be submitted and processed before the first day of the semester in which the student plans to enroll.
• No dual enrollment registrations will be accepted once the semester has begun.

Course Registration Overview

Students, with the help of their high school counselor, will select a list of courses that they would like to enroll in based on their academic preparation and availability. These courses will be listed on the Dual Enrollment Application and reviewed by an SVSU Admissions Representative. If the course is available, SVSU will register the student and send confirmation when completed. If the course is not available, the SVSU Admissions Representative will work directly with the student/counselor to select an alternative course.

Students will be able to view their entire student account on their MySVSU student portal. This includes the student’s course schedule, unofficial transcripts, financial account, etc. Instructions to access the student portal will be provided after the student is admitted.

Once a student is enrolled, SVSU faculty/staff are not able to release or discuss academic or financial information with parents/guardians unless an authorized “Student Records Release” form is on file. Students can identify individuals who should have access to their information by providing them with a unique 4-digit PIN. This process complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Registering for Courses - Step by Step

Step 1: Explore Available Courses

SVSU course offerings for each semester can be viewed online using the Course Schedule Lookup tool.

• Choose the term you plan to enroll in.
• Select the course department and any other filters you’d like to apply.
• Click the red “Search” button at the bottom of the page.
• Look for classes marked as "Open"—these have seats available.
• If your semester is not listed, please enter the course code and number, and use 0 for the credit hours, section number, and time. An Admissions Representative will assist you in finding the correct course.

Tip: Write down course details such as:

• Course name (e.g., ACCT 213 – Financial Accounting)
• Line number
• Section number
• Credit hours

You can also view available courses in the Course Catalog or under our General Education Requirements.

Questions or concerns please contact Samantha VanHorn at (989) 287-9166 (call/text).

Step 2: Submit Course Selections

Record your course choices on the Dual Enrollment Application and include it with your application materials.

Step 3: SVSU Registers You

Once all paperwork is received, SVSU’s Office of Admissions will officially register you for your requested courses.

Remember: Early applications = earlier registration opportunities.

View Your Class Schedule

After registration, log in to MySVSU to view your class schedule:

• Go to MySVSU (use your SVSU username and password)
• Click on Quick Links > Self-Service
• Select Student Planning to view your courses

Textbooks Listing

To find your textbooks, visit the Find Course Materials page. You’ll need your full class list, including course and section numbers, to look up the required materials.

The following SVSU General Education courses may be available in online or in-person formats. Students should work with their high school counselor and SVSU contact to confirm course availability and eligibility.

Use the SVSU Course Lookup Tool to see what courses are being offered during each semester.

Please note: Course offerings and delivery formats may change by semester.