Overview & Benefits - Southwestern Illinois College

Benefits for Students who take Dual Credit Classes

First and foremost, dual credit students have the benefit of free tuition for dual credit classes offered in their high school classroom. There are no additional costs such as fees and textbooks. Additionally, research shows that dual credit students:

  • Have enhanced ability and skills to do college level work and gain confidence for college success 1
  • Are more than twice as likely to enroll in college and almost twice as likely to earn a degree 2 3

Students enrolling in dual credit courses are also entitled to the same benefits as SWIC students enrolled on any other campus. Those include:  

  • SWIC Student ID Card: may be picked up using a current photo ID from the Public Safety office on SWIC’s campus upon successful registration in the course(s).
  • MetroBus/MetroLink Pass: this may be picked up along with the SWIC student ID card from the Public Safety office upon successful registration in the course(s).  
  • Library/Fitness Center: students can access and utilize SWIC’s library and fitness center with their student ID card.  
  • Success Center: students may utilize the SWIC Success Center at any of the main campus locations.  
  • Student Discounts: students gain access to college discounts at local and national retailers.  

Dual credit students are also potentially eligible for the Top 20% Scholarship at SWIC based on their dual credit and/or dual enrollment coursework. Students who earn a 3.5 or higher SWIC GPA for 8 or more hours of dual credit/dual enrollment coursework completed prior to high school graduation achieve eligibility for the Top 20 Scholarship.