Local parent wishes you knew more about the value of concurrent enrollment at CMC

Hanna Wittenberg (pictured, center) is a local parent who sees the great value in CMC’s Concurrent Enrollment Program. Two of her daughters, Lotte (pictured, left), and Lilli (pictured, right), have earned college credit while in high school, giving them a big economic and academic advantage when they head to college. Lotte earned her associate in arts degree from CMC, the same month she graduated from high school. That alone is saving her family 50 percent in college expenses, and shaving two years off the time to complete her four-year degree at Colorado Mesa University.

You’ve probably heard of high school students earning college credit in high school. But do you really know what it means and how to start?

There are two different paths to earn college credit while in high school. One of them involves taking a designated Advanced Placement (AP) class in the local high school.

Another path involves taking the class directly from a college or university – such as Colorado Mountain College – where the successful completion of the course earns the student college credit, all the while satisfying high school graduation requirements. Even better - there’s no tuition cost to the student.

You did read that right – high school students can earn college credit at no tuition cost at CMC. The Concurrent Enrollment Program is available to any high school student and tuition is paid by their local high school. Across Colorado, legislation enacted in 2009 provides this opportunity to high school students.

Hanna Wittenberg is a local parent who says, “I am surprised more people don’t know about Concurrent Enrollment!” It has made a huge difference for her family.

Two of Wittenberg’s daughters enrolled at CMC while they were students at Glenwood Springs High School. Lotte earned an associate of arts degree from CMC in 2023, just weeks before her high school graduation that same year. Lilli is currently a GSHS student enrolled in Concurrent Enrollment courses, hoping to follow in Lotte’s footsteps to an associate of arts degree in 2027.

It’s easy to see how much of a dent this can make in the cost of college. The more the student takes tuition-free Concurrent Enrollment classes, earning college credit, the more money a family can save when they send their children to college.

Wittenberg says, “We don’t have a huge pot of money for each of our kids to go to college, but we have always told them that with some extra effort and hard work they can achieve anything! This program has really opened up that avenue and helped make attending college easier for them.”

Lotte is currently attending Colorado Mesa University, working on her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Completing enough Concurrent Enrollment courses to earn her associate degree has saved her two full years of study at CMU. That is a 50% reduction in cost and time for attending college!

Beyond cost savings, Wittenberg says the CMC courses have given her children a taste of different subjects, helping them to narrow down their fields of interest for future studies and careers. In addition, she feels her children have grown a great deal. “Having a college opportunity at such a young age has made them more self-reliant and independent,” Wittenberg says. “For a parent, it is wonderful to see your children blossom into confident young adults, ready and eager to take charge of their lives.”

Know your options! Advanced Placement (AP) and Concurrent Enrollment are two different paths to earning college credit and it’s important to understand the differences. Successful completion of Concurrent Enrollment courses earns a student college credit, while AP courses necessitate a passing score on a post-class AP test paid for by the student.