Penn State York offers high school students the opportunity to take college courses on campus for a discounted tuition rate. This enables students to get a real “JumpStart” on their college careers by earning college credits while still in high school. Students participating in this Dual Enrollment program may choose from a variety of courses offered at the campus.

Review the Summer 2023 Dual Enrollment Courses.

Learn more about dual enrollment and relevant forms.

Eligibility

You must be a high school junior or senior with a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher, and a standardized test such as SAT/ACT, or PSAT, PSSA, or Keystone exam results can also be used. Exceptions may be made for promising students who do not meet the above criteria. Our review is holistic; we will consider multiple factors, including GPA trajectory, high school attendance, and guidance counselor recommendation.

Academic Performance

High school seniors may enroll in up to 8 credits per semester. Total credits taken may not exceed 24.

To remain in the program, students must earn a grade of C or better in each course.

Credits earned under the provisions of this program are valid at any Penn State location and may be transferred to another institution in the same way as any other Penn State credits.

Cost

Dual Enrollment students are offered a Penn State grant-in-aid of at least 50 percent of the cost of tuition.

How to Enroll

Students interested in participating in dual enrollment must meet with an admissions counselor at Penn State York in order to register for classes. Dual enrollment appointments are scheduled beginning in July for the fall semester, and November for the spring semester each year. Classes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Returning Dual Enrollment Students

A student can remain in the program as long as a grade of C or better is earned for each college course taken while still in high school. Students who have successfully completed Penn State York dual enrollment classes previously, must schedule classes through the admissions office; they do not have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, nor must they supply preregistration documentation, prior to the appointment.

If a returning dual enrollment student registers for a course without meeting with an admissions counselor prior to semester start, or has not met the minimum grade requirement for program participation, that student may be dismissed from the program.

New Dual Enrollment Students

In order for new students to be eligible for dual enrollment program participation, the following materials must be received by the admissions office from the high school guidance office no later than the priority deadline of July 1, for the best selection of classes. Applications and supporting materials will be accepted on a space available basis until July 15 for the fall semester.

The priority deadline for spring is December 1. Applications and supporting materials will be accepted on a space available basis until December 15 for the spring semester. Documentation must be emailed to Christina Lee at [email protected]

  1. The completed fillable Penn State York Dual Enrollment Form and Contract, signed by the student, parent/guardian. This form must be completed on a computer, printed, and signed before submission. Handwritten contracts will not be accepted.
  2. Official high school transcript.
  3. Standardized test scores (one or more of the following: SAT (recommended), ACT, PSAT, PSSA or Keystone Exam).
  4. Letter of recommendation from the student's high school guidance counselor.

Once documents have been received and processed, eligible students will be notified of approval to participate and emailed a link and detailed instructions regarding setting up their Penn State access account online. Only after activating their access account, should new students contact the admissions office to schedule a class registration appointment.

Child Safety

PACPSL Compliance Statement

Annually, more than 600 high school students schedule college courses from a multitude of disciplines at Penn State campuses. Per recent changes to the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (PACPSL), Penn State York will continue to provide courses for qualified dual enrolled students, fully compliant with the required background checking requirements listed below:

Faculty who teach classes in which dual enrolled students under the age of 18 are registered, as well as staff who provide professional or support services, such as advising, counseling, or tutoring and students who serve in peer roles such as advising, mentoring, or tutoring to these students, are required by State law to have the following three clearances: Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Background Check (SP4-164), Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Form (CY-113), and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check (Criminal History Report). Effective January 1, 2016, all individuals (current employees and new hires) interacting with dual enrolled students under the age of 18 are required to have valid clearances in place.

In order to ensure compliance in all future semesters, Penn State York will identify sections of courses that typically enroll the most high school students and can confirm that faculty teaching these courses have completed the required background checks. This course list will be shared with current and future dual-enrolled students through their guidance counselors and academic advisers and through print and web information.

In addition, staff and students who provide services such as academic advising, tutoring, and mentoring will be required to complete the three required background checks. Questions regarding Penn State York’s compliance with PACPSL can be directed to Ryan Service, Director of Enrollment Services, at 717-771-4042 or [email protected].