More Pennsylvania students are charting their own course to success through dual-credit
programs that offer high school students the opportunity to earn college credits before
graduation – at no cost to the students or their families. At Kutztown University,
Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe announced $7 million in grants to 10 institutions of
higher education to build and expand programs that offer hundreds of Pennsylvania students a headstart on their college career – bringing the total investment in the
Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program to $21 million.
Secretary Rowe joined hundreds of students, parents and educators to celebrate 68
students from 19 school districts who will graduate from high school this spring with college
credits earned through Kutztown University’s Early College Academy, a dual-credit program that is building capacity to offer tuition-free college courses to even more high school students.
Of those 68 students, more than half earned credits that will count toward majors in education. Altogether, through the Early College Academy’s first two cohorts, Kutztown University’s dualcredit program has helped 80 potential future teachers start their journey to a career in education before even leaving high school.
“The first step of any journey is the hardest one, and that is especially true for young people today who are considering what to do after high school. Options are abundant, but so are the risks. Dual-credit programs remove some of that risk from the equation and replace it with opportunity for students to explore their interests and earn college credits – without taking on debt,” Secretary Rowe said. “Programs like the Early College Academy also give communities an opportunity to build the highly skilled workforce they need to fill the jobs of the future. And it’s all happening because of smart investments and innovative partnerships between K-12 schools and the higher ed sector.”
Recipients of the Dual Credit Innovation Grant must offer the dual-credit program to students at no cost. Participants in these programs do not pay tuition, fees, or any other cost of attendance such as books or study materials.
Kutztown University launched the Early College Academy in 2024 and then – with nearly
$950,000 in grant funding — expanded the dual-credit program in 2025 to serve more students overall and more students from rural communities and
economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Beginning in 2026-27, students will attend class on campus two days per week, with one day delivered virtually. This hybrid structure expands access for rural districts by reducing
transportation barriers while preserving meaningful on-campus engagement. Participants enroll in two college courses per semester and earn 12 transferable credits equivalent to one semester of college over one academic year.
“At KU, we see it as our obligation to seek opportunities to serve citizens of the Commonwealth, both those in our classrooms and those in schools across Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Philip Cavalier, President of Kutztown University. “The Early College Academy dual-credit program provides us with a way to do just that, as we accelerate the post-secondary experience for students who will embark on important careers that continue to sustain the success of our communities.”
