Texas A&M University-Kingsville lowers dual credit tuition rate, prepares for growth
Texas A&M University-Kingsville is lowering dual credit tuition costs based on feedback from area school leaders.
In the fall, the cost for a typical three-hour credit course will drop from $155 to $100, a 35% reduction. In comparison, an A&M-Kingsville undergraduate student would pay $1,400 for three credit hours, including tuition and fees.
“It’s an incredible cost-savings for a university course,” said Rito Silva, A&M-Kingsville vice president of enrollment services and student affairs.
The university currently has dual credit partnerships with Benavides ISD, Bishop CISD, Brooks County ISD, Kingsville ISD, Premont ISD, Riviera ISD, San Diego ISD, Santa Gertrudis ISD, Taft ISD and Tuloso-Midway ISD, as well as several charter and private schools.
Last year, more than 280 high school students took a dual credit course at the university. But Silva said he expects that number to double in the fall.
By making dual credit courses more affordable, the university hopes more students will be able to experience higher education and take advantage of educational opportunities while still in high school. In turn, these students may be inspired to pursue a college degree, Silva said.
“These students that take dual credit courses in high school get every service a college student receives,” Silva said. “These students at Tuloso-Midway, at Kingsville, at San Diego — they get all the tutoring services, they get all the mental health counseling services and they also get to attend all athletic events for free as part of this program.”
The suggestion was made by members of university President Robert Vela Jr.’s superintendent advisory council.
“At one of our previous meetings, we asked them what can the university do for school districts,” Silva said. “The superintendents’ response was to give (students) access to the university culture while they’re still in high school.”
Tuloso-Midway ISD is one district that plans to increase dual credit opportunities at Texas A&M University-Kingsville next year.
This year, out of about 1,100 high school students in the district, 76 participated in a dual credit experience — primarily through a University of Texas-affiliated program, Superintendent Steve VanMatre said.
Next year, more than 600 students have signed up for dual credit courses through the district’s new Warpath Academy program, including about 350 at A&M-Kingsville, 300 at Coastal Bend College and two dozen at Del Mar College.
Tuloso-Midway ISD covers the full cost of dual credit tuition, as well as transportation to campus, for students who complete a dual credit course.
Under the previous $155 per three credit hour rate, VanMatre said the district was expecting to pay $191,958 to the university, according to current registration figures.
The lower rate amounts to nearly $64,500 in savings for Tuloso-Midway ISD alone.
VanMatre said the district can now provide dual credit opportunities to more students.
About half of the district's students are currently enrolled in courses that will allow them to earn college credit or industry credentials.
“I want that to be higher,” VanMatre said, saying he’d like to see more than 90% of students graduate with credit or credentials.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Texas A&M University-Kingsville lowers dual credit tuition rate
