Since transforming its dual-credit/AP course offerings four years ago to coincide with the launch of its early college program (MQTT-U), Marquette has seen students consistently outperform expectations.
The school’s Office of Academic Affairs recently ran projections through the end of the 2020-21 school year. The results speak for themselves: 2,900 dual credits earned across the junior and senior classes. The 40-member Class of 2021 is on pace for 1,342 while the 56 students that comprise the Class of 2022 will have earned 1,558 by June.
Distilled further, the current cohort of 13 MQTT-U seniors are on track to graduate with an average of 75 dual credits and a 4.2 average cumulative GPA. The crop of 23 MQTT-U juniors is forecasted to pair an average of 53 dual credits by year's end with a grade-point average of 4.4.
“I continue to be impressed and inspired by our juniors and seniors, whose grit and ambition through such challenging times are producing staggering results. Their success is a direct result of a Blazer academic community that includes students, faculty, and families,” academic advisor Tracy Wagner observed.
Enrolling in dual-credit courses while in high school presents students and families with myriad financial and academic benefits.
First and foremost, it lessens the cost of earning a college degree. A student who arrives on a college campus needing just 60 credit hours to complete a bachelor’s degree will spend considerably less on college-related expenses like tuition, fees, and room-and-board than a peer needing the full 120 credit hours.
“This is often a wise investment,” college admissions expert Michelle McAnaney said. “A few hundred dollars for the course is much cheaper than students would pay to take the same course at college.”
In the same vein, having several semesters’ worth of dual credits in tow enables students to earn a graduate or professional degree in a condensed timeframe.
Furthermore, students develop an understanding of the workload and rigor expected at the collegiate level. Marquette’s partnerships with Ivy Tech, Indiana University, and Purdue University have allowed Marquette students to learn from highly-qualified experts in their respective fields.
By administering these dual-credit courses within the confines of Marquette’s campus, students still reap the social benefits associated with high-school life. Take dual-credit Chemistry II during 4th hour, walk across the street to eat lunch with the rest of your friends during 5th hour. No commute necessary.
The educational landscape has changed substantially over the last decade. The technology and opportunities available at one’s fingertips are new and ever-changing. Marquette’s pledge remains the same: provide each student with a roadmap to academic excellence while equipping them with the values to lead a fulfilled life.
