Illinois announces tie ups with 21 high schools in the state for university’s dual-credit initiative
Dual Credit @ Illinois is designed to reach some of the most under-served students in the state, with affordable credits from a premier university
Dual Credit @ Illinois offers in-demand education courses to high school students state-wide
More than 20 high schools from across the state of Illinois will offer dual-credit courses from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign this fall.
This current academic year, 2026-27, is the second of the Dual Credit @ Illinois initiative and the official debut of the Learning Accelerator, with an additional three courses offered.
The university’s dual-credit catalogue includes four popular 100-level courses, representing the colleges of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Media, and Education.
“We are thrilled to partner with these Illinois high schools through Dual Credit @ Illinois this fall, reflecting our university’s commitment to expanding educational opportunity across the state,” Provost, John Coleman said.
“By reaching more students and families in communities throughout Illinois, the dual-credit initiative is helping young people access college-level learning earlier, gain confidence in their abilities and prepare for success in higher education and their future careers.”
A new approach for high school students
The Dual Credit @ Illinois is a new approach for the university in providing high school students statewide access to some of its most in-demand general education courses— at minimal or no cost to those students.
Led by the Office of Online Learning and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Illinois, in partnership with Illinois Virtual Schools and Academy, the initiative was designed to supply high school students with affordable college credits from a premier university — transferable to virtually any higher education institution in the country —while also introducing those students to career pathways they might not have considered.
The initiative is funded by American Talent Initiative, which is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The College of ACES fast-tracked the first offering from the university last year, thanks to a dual-credit framework from Anna Ball, associate dean for academic programs in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environment;a Sciences (ACES) Ball launched “ACES 102: Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems” in two high schools in fall 2025 and five more schools in spring 2026, paving the way for the larger pilot initiative to scale up.
Ball said: “Dual Credit @ Illinois gives us an exciting opportunity to reach students where they are and introduce them to the possibilities available through ACES.
“ACES 102 is designed to help students explore the breadth of our disciplines and the careers they can lead to. Bringing that experience into high school classrooms across Illinois can help more students discover pathways they may not have considered — and begin to see themselves as part of the Illinois community.”
Lisa Anderson, assistant provost for digital education, made one of the predominant goals of Dual Credit @ Illinois to reach underserved students at public schools from every region of the state.
High school students participating in the initiative also will receive a tangible sense of what the college experience feels like at Illinois, with access the university’s library system, and the possibility of traveling to campus to receive their i-Card or set up a virtual i-Card from home.
