AP & Dual Credit
Crosswalk from High School to College (this is a great document to use when choosing a class to take)
Password: dualcredit2026
Summer 2026 Applications Open: March 1, 2026
Fall 2026 Applications Open: April 1, 2026
Crosswalk from High School to College (this is a great document to use when choosing a class to take)
Password: dualcredit2026
Summer 2026 Applications Open: March 1, 2026
Fall 2026 Applications Open: April 1, 2026
What is dual credit?
Dual credit is the term used when referring to courses in which an enrolled high school student in grades 9-12 has the opportunity to earn both high school and university/technical college credit simultaneously. However, only students in grades 11-12 are eligible for reduced rate tuition.
What are the admissions requirements? (These are set by the SD Department of Education)
In order to participate, students must be a qualifying junior or senior eligible to enroll at a high school in South Dakota. To qualify, students must meet one of the requirements listed under either Sections 1 (for juniors) & 2 (for seniors), OR all of the requirements under Section 3. Students not meeting the requirements in Sections 1-3 may take and meet the required scores for an exam listed under Section 4 to qualify for the program.
1. High school junior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota who meets one of the following requirements:
a. earn an ACT composite score of 24 reflective of the 70% percentile; or
b. rank in upper one-third of their graduating class; or
c. earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale;
2. High school senior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota who meets one of the following requirements:
a. earn an ACT composite score of 21 reflective of the 50% percentile; or
b. rank in the upper one-half of their graduating class; or
c. earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale;
3. High School junior or senior eligible to enroll in a high school in South Dakota who meets all of the following Undergraduate admissions requirements:
a. ACT score of 18 (or 21 for USD & SDSM&T); and
b. Successful completion of coursework Requirements
• Four Years of English
• Three years of advanced mathematics
• Three years of laboratory science
• Three years of social studies
• One year of fine arts
4. Take one of the assessments below and meet the required score(s):
a. Smarter Balanced - Score Level 3 or higher on the English Language Arts (ELA) AND Mathematics 11th Grade Assessments
b. PreACT Exam Composite Score of 24 or higher
c. ACCUPLACER Next Generation (QAS (Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra & Statistics) - Score 255 or higher AND Writing - Score 263 or higher)
If students are interested in taking a dual credit course from one of the four South Dakota technical colleges (LATC, MTC, STC, or WDTC) they must meet the specific program enrollment requirements of the course they are taking. The dual credit contact at that institution can answer questions on eligibility.
What is the cost?
Dual credit courses cost $78.48 per credit — a huge savings compared to the approximate $350 per credit typically paid by college students.
How do students find out what courses are available?
Visit the Dual Credit Dashboard for the official course list. Students then need to work with their school counselor to choose the best course for their schedule. A list of courses can also be found on the Dual Credit page for each institution: BHSU: DSU, LATC, MTC, NSU, SDSMT, SDSU, STC, USD, WDTC
Want a head start on planning your college courses? Click the educational pathway below that matches your interests to see classes you may need!