Missouri Dual Credit Information

The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) policy on dual credit delivery was revised and approved by the Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education (CBHE) in June, 2015.

The policy establishes guidelines for courses offered in high school that count for both high school and college credit simultaneously. These policies outline student eligibility, program structure and administration, faculty qualifications, assessment, and transferability of college-level course credit earned by high-performing high school students. More information can be found here

Participating Institutions

Enabling Legislation

  • In 2016, SB 997, an omnibus higher education bill including provisions around dual credit, was passed and signed into law by then Governor Jay Nixon. Some of the changes created by SB 997 included an annual dual credit provider application process, and the establishment of an approved dual credit provider list which the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) uses as part of the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP). In addition, the legislation established a dual credit scholarship fund for students with economic need.
  • RSMo 173.2500 – Dual Credit Providers and Application
  • RSMo 173.2505 – Dual Credit Scholarship Fund

Additional Information

The department published a dual credit report in 2011, which included a review of instructor qualification and training.

  • According to the report, many institutions indicated that they had experienced difficulty in finding or replacing qualified instructors in rural areas, an issue that has persisted since at least 2008. At this time, due to staff changes and other administrative issues—including a merger with another state department—staff have not been able to revisit the information detailed in the report until recently. The newly formed College & Career Readiness division will be spearheading projects to better define, retool, and promote Missouri’s efforts around dual credit and concurrent enrollment programs, including issues of instructor qualification and training. 

By statute (RSMo 173.2500), all dual credit providers must be approved by the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, though the department does not approve individual programs at each institution. As of January, 2020, there are 42 in-state and one out-of-state institution listed as dual credit providers in Missouri.  The dual credit provider list can be reached by clicking here.

Information on dual credit in Missouri can be found at https://dhewd.mo.gov/cota/dualcredit.php. Further, any questions can be directed to the Office of Postsecondary Policy’s College & Career Readiness team.