Early start: Students get jump on college

A student attending Vincennes University will pay more than $9,000 for classes this year, and that’s before room, board and other expenses are factored in.

But to save money, a growing number of college-bound Center Grove students are taking those same courses in high school.

Center Grove has offered an early-college program to students for the past four years and has partnered with Vincennes for the past three. Students in the program can earn up to 60 college credits, meaning they can graduate from high school with an associate’s degree. The total cost to the students is $3,000, Center Grove early-college program coordinator Josh Baker said.

Center Grove, Franklin and Whiteland high schools all are seeing increases in the number of students in early-college and dual-enrollment courses as families try to save money and teens look to gain academic experience before getting to college.

This year, about 400 students are enrolled in Center Grove’s early-college program, up from 200 four years ago.

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