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Benefits

There are numerous academic and financial benefits to participating in the Early Enrollment Program.

Academic Benefits

In addition to providing rigorous postsecondary academic challenges to high school students in their own supportive high school environment, the EEP provides you with the opportunity to

  • Focus learning on critical thinking and writing skills
  • Earn college credits based on the grade earned in a course, not a score on a standardized test
  • Get a head start on college

Financial Benefits

As of fall 2015, Governor Raimondo’s Prepare RI Dual Enrollment Fund will provide funding for every qualifying student (who attends a RI public high school) to take college courses as part of their high school requirements at no cost to the student. While funding continues, EEP courses will be free, but students must still formally register for their EEP courses. Students interested in registering for EEP credit need to have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 or the permission of their teacher and/or school counselor. As shown in the table below, students attending private or out of state high schools pay a significantly reduced fee for each course in which they enroll.

Because a number of participating high schools offer multiple EEP courses, students could earn up to a full year of college credit through the Early Enrollment Program–and reduce the cost of college.

For RI and MA students not covered by Prepare RI funding, the cost (2017-2018) for EEP classes is $65 per credit. College courses are typically three or four credits.

The table below shows the savings if a student took English 113 as an EEP course instead of taking the course on campus (*based on 2017-2018 RIC tuition):​

FALL 2017 English 113 EEP English 113 on campus Savings
RI Resident $260 $1456 $1200
Nearby MA Resident $260 $2068 $1800

Imagine the savings if more than one EEP course is taken while still in high school. Some students have saved as much as a year's college tuition.

Other benefits

After registering for EEP courses, students will be eligible to receive a RIC Campus Card (student ID), which may be used at Adams Library to access the library's extensive online services, and for many entertainment events sponsored by the college. The cost to attend these events is the same as the cost to the full-time student population. In addition, graduating seniors who have taken EEP courses and who plan to attend Rhode Island College may be considered for the annual EEP Scholarships.​​

Page last updated: September 07, 2017