Harper College

Dual Credit and Credit By Exam

Students Studying
Harper College's High School Partnership program allows high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn college credit, and simultaneously satisfy high school graduation requirements. In this program, students can take college level courses on the Harper campus or in their high school. College level credit is achieved by participation in either the Dual Credit or the Credit by Exam program.

Find Dual Credit Classes

If you are interested in participating in either the Dual Credit or the Credit by Exam programs, please follow the steps below:

STEP 1: Attend a participating district high school

In order to participate in the Harper College High School Partnership program, you must attend a high school in district 211, 214 or 220.  Participating high schools include Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Conant, Elk Grove, Forest View, Fremd, Hersey, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Prospect, Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling, and Vanguard.

STEP 2: Contact your high school counselor

Your high school counselor will help you select classes that will work with your schedule, assist you in the application process, and answer any questions you have regarding the program.  All processes, including enrolling in classes, acceptance into the program, and dropping classes are completed through your high school. If you are a home schooled student, please contact the high school in your home district for more information.

STEP 3: Work with your high school counselor to complete the application forms

If you are taking a Dual Credit course on the Harper campus, you will need to complete the three forms below.  The High School Partnership Application is completed online.  The Treatment Authorization and Student-Parent Signature Forms should be printed and completed with your parent or guardian.  When complete, you can give them to your high school counselor.

If you are taking a Dual Credit course on the high school campus, or a course for Credit by Exam, please only complete the online High School Partnership Application.

High School Partnership Application Instructions .PDF

Quick Tip:  If you've already started a High School Partnership Application click here to login to complete or edit your application.

Differences Between the Two Programs

Dual Credit: Students participating in the Dual Credit program earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.  When the class is complete, the student will receive a letter grade on both their high school and Harper College transcripts.  Dual Credit courses include American Sign Language, Carpentry, Electronics, Fashion Design, Fire Science, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Health Care, Hospitality Management, Law Enforcement, Literature, Math, Medical Terminology, Networking, and Nursing Assistant Training.

Credit by Exam: Students participating in the Credit by Exam program can also earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.  Students take an exam at the end of the semester either in their high school class or at Harper College.  The instructor will notify students of the exam results. 

Upon passing the exam and completing the Harper College High School Partnership Application, students will receive a letter grade on their high school transcript, and credit only (CRD) on their Harper Transcript.  Semester hours of credit are awarded through this program, but a letter grade is not assigned on the Harper transcript. Each college and university determines if exam credit is awarded, and how much credit will be granted to their institution. Therefore, you should check directly with the college or university you plan to attend to ensure the credits meet their degree requirements.

Credit by Exam courses include Introduction to Business Organization, Introduction to Financial Accounting, and Medical Terminology.

Transcripts

Transcripts are not automatically mailed to students. How to order a Harper transcript.

Orientation at Harper College

Questions?

Start with your high school counselor. For additional information please contact Sharon Rainboldt (Dual Credit Coordinator) at srainbol@harpercollege.edu or 847.925.6364.

Last Updated: 12/14/23