Dual Enrollment in Pennsylvania: A Guide for Families
Dual enrollment lets a high school student take college courses and earn college credit before graduating. Lackawanna College, a private, nonprofit college founded in 1894 and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, offers dual enrollment for high school students throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Courses can meet inside the student’s own high school, online, at the main campus in Scranton or at Lackawanna College campus locations. This guide explains how dual enrollment in Pennsylvania works, what the state requires of schools, what credits cost and how registration happens. It also compares dual enrollment with LevelUP and SOAR and explains what happens to the credits after high school.
What Is Dual Enrollment in Pennsylvania?
Dual enrollment means a student is enrolled in high school and taking a college course at the same time. In Pennsylvania, the written contract behind it is called a dual credit agreement. Under the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidance on dual credit agreements, credits a high school student earns are the same credits offered to the college’s own students, and they are recorded on both the high school transcript and the student’s college transcript.
Pennsylvania also sets a minimum for schools. Effective with the 2022-2023 school year, every school entity that enrolls secondary students must have at least one dual credit agreement with a college approved to operate in the state, and that includes school districts, career and technical schools, charter schools, cyber charter schools and regional charter schools. Because each agreement is its own written contract, ask your school which college partners and courses it offers.
At Lackawanna College, dual enrollment is one of three ways high school students can earn college credit. The Pre-College Programs page groups them together: approved dual enrollment courses through your high school, real college experience through the LevelUP program, and credit for skills you have already mastered through the SOAR program. This guide starts with dual enrollment and then explains how the other two differ.
How Dual Enrollment Works at Lackawanna College
Where the classes happen is usually the first practical question. Lackawanna College offers dual enrollment courses during the school day, inside the student’s own high school. Courses are also available through Lackawanna College’s online program, at the main campus in Scranton, and at campus locations in Hawley, Hazleton, Sunbury, Towanda and Tunkhannock. The college offers the program to high schools throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania on a contractual basis and at a reduced cost.
When a course is taught inside a high school, the college and the school work on it together. In its description of the Pre-College Program, Lackawanna College says it collaborates closely with schools to align its curriculum, including Advanced Placement (AP) and other qualifying courses, with what the school already offers. When Bloomsburg Area High School signed its agreement, the district’s Director of Curriculum and Instruction & Grant Writing said, “Lackawanna College is very flexible with our teachers teaching the courses.”
Registration happens during the school year, when a representative from Lackawanna College visits the high school to register students. The best first step is your school counseling office, which can tell you which courses are eligible and when registration day is scheduled at your school. Questions the counseling office cannot answer can go to the Pre-College Team at precollege@lackawanna.edu or 570-961-7891. Transcript instructions are also on the Lackawanna College dual enrollment page.
Key Takeaway: Lackawanna College dual enrollment courses can meet inside your high school during the school day, online, in Scranton, or at campus locations in Hawley, Hazleton, Sunbury, Towanda and Tunkhannock. Registration happens at your school when a college representative visits, and your counseling office knows which courses qualify.
How Much Does Dual Enrollment Cost per Credit?
Cost depends partly on where your student goes to school. Lackawanna College’s standard dual enrollment tuition rate is $100 per credit, but the rate may vary by school district based on the contract between the district and the college. At the standard rate, a course worth three credits would cost $300 in tuition.
Who pays can also differ by district. Pennsylvania’s guidance says a school entity may, but is not required to, pay for tuition, fees, supplies or other costs related to a student enrolling in college coursework as part of a dual credit agreement. Before registration day, ask your counseling office what rate applies at your school and whether the district covers any part of the cost.
Dual enrollment can also help with cost later if the student continues at Lackawanna College. Students who earn Lackawanna College credits through dual enrollment may also qualify for a scholarship if they enroll at Lackawanna College after high school to complete their degree. The scholarship page lists the current terms and a contact for questions.
LevelUP uses the same standard rate of $100 per credit, which may also vary by district. Lackawanna College also offers a LevelUP Scholarship for students facing financial barriers, and the Pre-College Programs Director can explain it at precollege@lackawanna.edu or 570-955-1516.
Key Takeaway: The standard dual enrollment rate at Lackawanna College is $100 per credit, but your district’s contract can change that number, and Pennsylvania lets each district decide whether to pay any of the cost. Ask your counselor about both before registration day.
Dual Enrollment, LevelUP and SOAR Compared
Dual enrollment is not the only way to earn Lackawanna College credit in high school. LevelUP and SOAR work differently, and the better fit depends on how a student wants to learn and what they are already studying. The table below shows where each program happens, who it serves and how cost works.
| Program | Where it happens | Who it serves | How cost works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual enrollment | Inside your high school during the school day, online, at the main campus in Scranton, or at campus locations in Hawley, Hazleton, Sunbury, Towanda and Tunkhannock | High school students throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, arranged through their high school | Standard rate of $100 per credit, which may vary by school district |
| LevelUP | Online or on campus | High school students who want a career-focused pathway and authentic college experiences | Standard rate of $100 per credit, which may vary by school district |
| SOAR | In high school or at a Career and Technology Center | Students who complete an approved career and technical program of study | Up to 15 free Lackawanna College credits for students who meet its requirements |
The LevelUP Program
The LevelUP program is a career-focused pathway model that gives high school students authentic college experiences along with credits. Students earn credits at a pace that works for them, online or on campus. Before they begin, they attend an orientation, and an academic advisor helps plan courses around their goals. LevelUP students also get tutoring and career information through the Student Success office and can take part in student activities.
LevelUP pathways lead directly into Lackawanna College degree programs, including Accounting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Professional Studies, Technology Innovation, Health Sciences and the School of Hospitality. When Blue Mountain School District joined, the college said LevelUP would let its students take classes online or in person at a center near them to potentially graduate high school with an associate degree. Students apply through the Lackawanna College online application and choose Pre-College as the application type, and some pathways ask for a high school transcript or standardized test scores.
LevelUP has also drawn national attention. In March 2021, the business magazine Fast Company included Lackawanna College on its World’s Most Innovative Companies list for 2021, specifically for the LevelUP program. Fast Company ranked the college ninth in its Corporate Social Responsibility category.
The SOAR Program
SOAR stands for Students Occupationally and Academically Ready. The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) describes SOAR as the career and technical educational plan that aligns high school career and technical programs to a college certificate, diploma or associate degree through articulation agreements. An articulation agreement is a formal contract between two schools covering how credits and coursework carry over from a career and technical center to a college. Through the Lackawanna College SOAR program, students can earn up to 15 college credits free, which the college values at up to $7,875.
To earn those free credits, Lackawanna College’s SOAR page says a student must:
- Complete the PDE-approved SOAR program of study in high school or at a Career and Technology Center, with proficiency on all required tasks
- Earn a 2.75 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale in the technical courses
- Score competent or advanced on the exam at the end of the technical program
- Earn a high school diploma
- Apply within 16 months of high school graduation with paperwork from the guidance counselor, and be accepted at a college that offers SOAR credits in that program
Lackawanna College’s SOAR programs of study include accounting technology and bookkeeping, administrative assistant and secretarial science, baking and pastry arts, institutional food work and criminal justice, among others. Each one maps to a list of possible Lackawanna College degrees, and the SOAR page lists the college’s Programs of Study Coordinator as the contact.
Key Takeaway: Dual enrollment and LevelUP both carry a standard rate of $100 per credit that may vary by school district, while SOAR can award up to 15 free Lackawanna College credits to students who complete an approved career and technical program of study, meet its grade and exam requirements, earn a high school diploma and apply within 16 months of graduation.
Lackawanna College Partner School Districts in Pennsylvania
School partnerships shape what students can access and what they pay. Lackawanna College’s list of partnering school districts explains that partnership lets students take part in both dual enrollment and the LevelUP program at a discounted tuition rate. The list names more than 60 school partners, including Abington Heights, Dunmore, Scranton, West Scranton, Towanda, Tunkhannock, Wallenpaupack and Wyoming Valley West. Seven of them, including Hazleton, Tunkhannock and Wallenpaupack, are marked as block schedule partners for fall and spring.
Lackawanna College has also announced agreements with individual schools. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, Blue Mountain High School students can earn college credits through Lackawanna College’s Pre-College programs, under an agreement approved by the Blue Mountain School District board of directors. That announcement names both LevelUP and dual enrollment, with dual enrollment at the discounted rate of $100 per credit.
Bloomsburg Area High School signed a pre-college agreement in April 2025, planned to start in summer 2025 and continue through the 2025-2026 school year. Along with general education courses, one goal of that agreement was to offer Bloomsburg students Lackawanna College’s fully online Cybersecurity program, which is designed as a two-year associate degree. Commonwealth Charter Academy, a public cyber charter school, signed its agreement in January 2025. CCA students can take courses online, or in person if they live near a Lackawanna College campus location or the main campus.
If your school does not appear on the list, ask your counseling office which college partners it works with. Schools interested in becoming a Lackawanna College partner can contact the Pre-College Team at precollege@lackawanna.edu.
What Happens to Dual Enrollment Credits After High School?
The credits a student earns through dual enrollment are Lackawanna College credits. Under Pennsylvania’s dual credit guidance, they appear on both the high school transcript and the college transcript. Official Lackawanna College transcripts are requested online through the National Student Clearinghouse, and the order needs the recipient’s email address for electronic delivery.
For students who plan to continue at Lackawanna College, two parts of Lackawanna College’s Pre-College programs connect to that choice. LevelUP, a separate pre-college program, has pathways that lead directly into Lackawanna College degree programs, and the scholarship described above is for students who enroll at Lackawanna College after high school to complete their degree. If a two-year degree is on your list, our guide on whether an associate degree is worth it in 2026 walks through that decision.
Students who plan to attend a different college should check before counting on the credits. Ask the admissions office at each college you are considering how it will treat Lackawanna College credits. Our guide on how college transfer credits work explains the general process, including grade requirements and how course equivalency reviews are done.
Is Dual Enrollment Worth It for Your Student?
According to Lackawanna College, students in a pre-college program can get a head start on their college education, save money on tuition, and explore different subjects before committing to a major. The Pennsylvania Department of Education also notes a strong body of research supporting the connection between rigorous high school coursework and enrolling in college, and it names dual credit courses as one example of that coursework. Whether the timing is right depends on the student’s readiness, schedule and goals. A school counselor or the Pre-College Team can help you weigh those before registration day.
Taking the Next Step
Dual enrollment in Pennsylvania gives high school students a way to earn college credit while they finish high school. At Lackawanna College, courses can meet inside your high school, online, in Scranton or at campus locations in Hawley, Hazleton, Sunbury, Towanda and Tunkhannock. The standard rate is $100 per credit, and your district’s contract may change it. LevelUP offers an orientation, an academic advisor and student support for students who want authentic college experiences, and SOAR can turn an approved career and technical program into free college credit.
Start with your school counseling office to find out which courses are eligible and when registration day is. For questions about dual enrollment, contact the Pre-College Team at precollege@lackawanna.edu or 570-961-7891, or request information online. To see Lackawanna College in person, schedule your visit. Students ready to apply for LevelUP can start the online application and choose Pre-College as the application type.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dual enrollment in Pennsylvania?
Dual enrollment lets a high school student take a college course and earn college credit while still in high school. Under Pennsylvania’s dual credit guidance, those credits are the same credits the college offers its own students, and they are recorded on both the high school transcript and the college transcript. At Lackawanna College, dual enrollment courses can meet inside the student’s high school during the school day, online, at the main campus in Scranton, or at campus locations in Hawley, Hazleton, Sunbury, Towanda and Tunkhannock.
Do Pennsylvania schools have to offer dual enrollment?
Pennsylvania requires a basic level of access. Effective with the 2022-2023 school year, every school entity that enrolls secondary students, including school districts, career and technical schools and charter schools, must have at least one dual credit agreement with a college approved to operate in Pennsylvania. Each agreement is a written contract, so the college partner, eligible courses and costs can differ by school. Lackawanna College publishes a list of its partnering school districts, and your counseling office can tell you which agreements your school has.
How much does dual enrollment cost per credit at Lackawanna College?
Lackawanna College’s standard dual enrollment tuition rate is $100 per credit, but the rate may vary by school district based on the contract between the district and the college. Pennsylvania’s guidance also says a school entity may, but is not required to, pay for tuition, fees, supplies or other costs for a student in a dual credit agreement. Students who earn Lackawanna College credits through dual enrollment may also qualify for a scholarship if they enroll at Lackawanna College after high school to complete their degree. Current terms and a contact are listed on the college’s New Student Scholarships page.
How do students sign up for dual enrollment at Lackawanna College?
Registration for dual enrollment happens during the school year at the high school. A representative from Lackawanna College visits the school to register students. Check with your school counseling office to find out which courses are eligible and when registration day is at your high school. For other questions, contact the Pre-College Team at precollege@lackawanna.edu or 570-961-7891.
What is the difference between dual enrollment, LevelUP and SOAR?
Dual enrollment is arranged through your high school, with courses inside the school, online, in Scranton or at campus locations. LevelUP is a career-focused pathway that students take online or on campus at their own pace, with an orientation, an academic advisor, Student Success services and student activities. Both carry a standard rate of $100 per credit that may vary by district. SOAR is a Pennsylvania Department of Education program of study that can award up to 15 free Lackawanna College credits to students who complete an approved career and technical program and meet its requirements.
Will dual enrollment credits transfer to another college?
Dual enrollment credits are Lackawanna College credits, and under Pennsylvania’s dual credit guidance they are recorded on both the high school and college transcripts. How another college treats those credits is a question for that college, so ask the admissions office at each school you are considering before you count on them. Students who continue at Lackawanna College after high school may also qualify for a scholarship for dual enrollment students. Current terms and a contact are listed on the college’s New Student Scholarships page.
How do I request a transcript for dual enrollment credits?
Official Lackawanna College transcripts are requested online through the National Student Clearinghouse. The Lackawanna College dual enrollment page links to the order form, and the order follows step-by-step instructions. Have the correct recipient’s email address ready, because the transcript is delivered electronically. Under Pennsylvania’s dual credit guidance, credits earned through a dual credit agreement are also recorded on the student’s high school transcript.