There are a few ways that St. Clair students pursuing postsecondary options can save time and money when they head off to college. Students of St. Clair can enter college with credits they have earned in high school. There are a number of options that they may choose from to start earning college credits as a Junior or a Senior. Qualifying students may participate in Concurrent Enrollment with Minnesota State University - Mankato, Southwest Minnesota State University, and University of Minnesota. Articulated College Credit is a way for students to earn credit at a two year institution. St. Clair students also have the option of going PSEO.

Concurrent Enrollment courses are taught during the regular school day and are offered through a partnership between St. Clair High School and a college or university. High school instructors teach the courses with the same content and assessment methods that are used in the equivalent sections taught on the college campus. Students can earn high school and college credit upon successful completion of the course. Concurrent enrollment goes by a variety of names, such as “College-in-the-Schools” at the University of Minnesota and “College Now” at Southwest Minnesota State University.  Articulated College Credit is given to students who demonstrate knowledge in a specific skills area. Qualifying students can receive credit at a number of colleges through their coursework in Basic Nursing and Computers and You.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college-level, nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th graders may take one career/technical PSEO course. If they earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional PSEO courses.

There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books or fees for items that are required to participate in a course. Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.09. Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Schools must provide information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families by March 1, every year. Students must notify their school by May 30 if they want to participate in PSEO for the following school year. For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage

**Please note that the laws about PSEO have changed recently. Students need to notify their home districts of their intent to go PSEO by May 30. Please see statute 124D.09 for the full explanation.

For more information, please select the links to the specific programs.