WINONA LAKE — To serve the community and introduce higher education to high school students, Grace College offers the Jump Start and Dual Credit programs. Both programs allow students to earn accredited, transferable college credit and take advanced courses that are not offered at the high school level.

Jump Start is offered on the Grace College campus to any high school junior or senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5.  Juniors may take three credit hours per semester, while seniors may take up to six credit hours per semester. Dual credit is currently offered through six area high schools to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Participating high schools include Warsaw Community High School, Lakeland Christian Academy and Tippecanoe Valley High School in Kosciusko County; Blackhawk Christian School in Allen County; Lakewood Park Christian School in DeKalb County and South Adams High School in Adams County. 

A maximum of 12 credit hours total per year may be taken by a Jump Start or Dual Credit student through Grace College.  Grace offers a discounted rate per credit hour for both programs. Currently, a combined 300 students are enrolled in Jump Start and Dual Credit. Grace College encourages more families to explore the unique prospect afforded to high school students through these programs.

“Jump Start and Dual Credit offer high school students a great opportunity to get a head start on their college education at a very affordable price. We hope that more students will take advantage of the possibility of finishing college earlier and earning high school credit while doing it,” says Allyn Decker, director of dual credit programs at Grace College.

Dual credit registration for fall of 2016 begins this spring at participating high schools. Interested students should inquire with their high school counselor for more information. Jump Start registration for fall of 2016 begins April 20 at Grace College.  For more information or to apply, visit www.grace.edu/jump or call (574) 372-5100, ext. 6214.