Dual Credit

High School Students Earn Free College Credit with Dual Credit!

Every year, high school students in central Wisconsin earn college credits before they even graduate. Dual Credit and other opportunities for high school students give you a head start on college and a chance to explore careers before you commit. The credits you earn are entirely free of charge and—in some cases—may even transfer to other Wisconsin technical colleges or four-year colleges.

Dual Credit...and More

Dual Credit and Start College Now are both forms of Dual Credit at Mid-State that allow you to challenge yourself academically, earn college credits toward a program of study, accelerate your post-secondary degree completion, and save money on tuition and books.

Youth Apprenticeship (YA) is another option that allows you to gain valuable on-the-job training as part of your Mid-State education. 

Which programs are right for you? Explore the options below, and follow next steps to getting started. Adult students looking for information about Mid-State college credit for previous education, work, life, and military experiences should visit our Credit for Prior Learning page. 

Some courses taught at your high school may be taught by a high school instructor specially certified by Mid-State to teach the course. Because these are Mid-State courses, you can earn college credit.

  • Credits are transferable to other colleges.

Dual Credit isn’t just for high school juniors and seniors anymore—sophomores can take Dual Credit courses too!

How Do I Get Dual Credit?

During the first week of class, your Dual Credit high school teacher will assist all students who want to receive free college credits with Mid-State to apply and complete a registration form for the Dual Credit option. Only students who submit this registration form will earn the dual credit. After the class, your instructor will enter your grade with Mid-State, and it will appear on your college transcript.

A Closer Look

Start College Now is a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) program that allows high school juniors and seniors enrolled in a public school district who are in good academic standing to take classes at Mid-State for both high school and college credit.

  • Interested students apply to their school district asking for approval to take one or more college courses each semester of their junior or senior year.
  • By approving the student to take college course(s), the school district will pay for the student's tuition and fee associated with the cost of the course(s).

How Do I Get Started with Start College Now?

  1. Note important deadlines for submitting your Start College Now application:
    • March 1 deadline for following fall semester start
    • October 1 deadline for following spring semester start
  2. Just looking to take a course or two? Complete and submit the online Mid-State Start College Now application. (You will need to indicate your course number and term start date on the application.)
  3. Ready to start a Mid-State Program? Check out the Mid-State Fast-Track program, which allows eligible high school students to apply to any Mid-State certificate or degree program!
  4. Watch for an email confirmation from Mid-State letting you know that your application was successfully submitted. (Mid-State will also send all applications to the school district for approval.)
  5. Watch for an email from Mid-State informing you of your application approval status and next steps.

For detailed information and responsibilities pertaining to the Start College Now program, see the Start College Now instructions on the Wisconsin Technical College System website. Do not complete the application on this page—be sure to use Mid-State’s application linked in step 2 above.

Youth Apprenticeship (YA) gives high school juniors or seniors the opportunity to participate in a one- or two-year apprenticeship. During the apprenticeship, students continue toward high school graduation and take courses related to the profession as a way of enhancing what they're learning on the job. 

Learn more about the Youth Apprenticeship program and the pathways offered. 

Youth Apprenticeship Booklet