The College Credit Plus dual enrollment program allows students to earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking courses from Ohio colleges or universities.
CCP enhances students’ college readiness and postsecondary success, while providing a variety of course options to the college-ready student. Accepted students may take courses at one or a combination of the following locations: at the AU main campus, online, or at their high school (if their school partners with AU for “in-house” courses).
- Students in grades 7-12 who are enrolled in Ohio public schools, nonpublic high schools, or homeschooled may choose to participate in the CCP program at Ashland University.
- Students must complete their first 15 credits in Level One courses.
- Ashland University has developed 15- and 30- credit hour pathways to help students plan their course selections.
- Please be aware that the subject matter of some courses may include mature topics or materials of a graphic, explicit, violent or sexual nature. Courses will not be modified for CCP students regardless of where course instruction occurs. Parents should contact collegecreditplus@photographywaltz.com if they would like to request a course materials review.
For complete program guidelines, visit the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.
Important Action Deadlines for Participation
| ACTION | FALL | SPRING | SUMMER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | Mid-April | Mid-November | Early April |
| Public School AU Application deadline | June 15 | Oct. 15 | March 1 |
| Homeschool/Nonpublic Application deadlines | AU application - March 1 ODHE funding application - April 1 |
||
| Accuplacer and WebCape testing deadline; missing materials due | June 30 | Oct. 31 | March 15 |
| Incomplete applications denied (those missing permission slip, transcript, or testing) | July 1 | Nov. 1 | March 16 |
| Deadline for new students to complete orientation and survey | Aug. 1 | Dec. 5 | March 31 |
Students who miss the deadlines above will not be able to participate.
To participate in CCP at Ashland University:
- Submit your Letter of Intent to your high school counselor.
- Apply to Ashland University
- Submit your CCP Permission Slip by uploading your completed permission slip to your application.
- Ask your school counselor to send your high school transcript and test scores to Ashland University.
Visit the Ohio Department of Higher Education website for additional information.
To participate in CCP at Ashland University:
- Apply to Ashland University
- Submit your CCP Permission Slip by uploading your completed permission slip to your application.
- Email your transcript and test scores to collegecreditplus@photographywaltz.com.
- Submit your Ohio funding application through the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.
Note: You must include your college admission letter as part of the state application. Please plan well in advance of the deadlines to ensure you have ample time to receive and upload your admission letter to your OH | ID account. The State of Ohio does not accept late applications.
Visit the Ohio Department of Higher Education website for additional information.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the CCP program will be granted to the student who satisfies the requirements of either pathway below.
CCP admission does not guarantee placement in any course. Students must be able to meet all placement and prerequisite guidelines.
Pathway 1: Traditional Admission
Minimum 2.50 unweighted cumulative* high school GPA, plus one of the following assessment scores:
- 18 ACT Composite
- 970 SAT
- ONE of the following Accuplacer scores:
- 250 Reading
- 263 Writing
- 263 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics (QAS)
As a prospective CCP student, you may schedule a free Accuplacer test through our Testing Center.
For additional information about taking the Accuplacer test, view our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Pathway 2: Test-Optional Admission
- Minimum 3.00 unweighted cumulative* high school GPA
OR - 2.85 – 2.99 GPA unweighted cumulative* high school GPA with grades of “A” or “B” in the relevant coursework areas. (AU defines the relevant coursework areas as math, English, science, and social studies.)
*A cumulative high school GPA must include at least one final grade in each of the relevant coursework areas.
Students who have not yet earned a final grade in each of the relevant coursework areas (i.e., students who have not yet completed the 9th grade) must currently have As and Bs only in those areas and take the Accuplacer Reading exam. A copy of the student’s grade card with grades for all the grading periods for the current school year to date should be sent by the school to collegecreditplus@photographywaltz.com.
CCP Admissions/Accuplacer Example Scenarios
Example: A student completed HS Algebra I in the 8th grade and earned a B-.
Required Action: The student should schedule the Accuplacer (Reading section) and score 250+ to be admitted.
Example: A freshman student applies to the CCP program before final grades have been posted at the end of the school year and has As or Bs in each of the relevant coursework areas on their grade card.
Required Action: The student should schedule the Accuplacer (Reading section) and score 250+ to be admitted.
Example: A student does not yet have a cumulative* HS GPA with final grades in each of the relevant coursework areas. The student’s grade card demonstrates at least one C or lower in a relevant coursework area.
Decision: The student does not yet qualify for admission due to not having all As and Bs in the relevant areas. They should not schedule the Accuplacer, as grades below As and Bs disqualify the student from participation, regardless of any assessment scores. The student should plan to reapply for admission after completing the ninth grade.
How to Apply
When creating an account to start the application process, students must use their personal email address, not a high school or parent email address.
Students should regularly check their email for their admission decision. AU does not send paper acceptance letters; all notifications are sent to the email address the student supplies during the application process.
If the student has not heard back from the university within in 1-2 weeks, they should double-check that their admission letter did not go to their spam folder. If it is not there, they should contact collegecreditplus@photographywaltz.com, as there may be missing information necessary for their decision.
NOTE: If a student applies using an email address that cannot receive messages (such as a high school account that often blocks outside communications) or uses an account they cannot access (like a parent’s email), they will not receive their admission letter with further instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions
Since Ashland University has two pathways to admission—with and without test scores—it is not necessary for every student to schedule the Accuplacer. Sometimes scores are necessary for admission to the program, while at other times, scores are necessary for placement into specific courses. The following guidelines will help you understand whether you need to test.
As a prospective CCP student, you may schedule a free Accuplacer test through our Testing Center.
For ADMISSION to the program:
- If your unweighted HS GPA is 3.0 or higher AND you have completed the 9th grade – You do NOT need to take the Accuplacer for admission to the program.
- If you have NOT completed the 9th grade and have As and Bs in math, English, science, and social studies, you should schedule to take the Accuplacer Reading section and earn a score of 250 or higher for admission to the program.
- If your unweighted HS GPA is 2.50 to 2.9 – You should at least plan to take the Accuplacer Reading section and earn a score of 250 or higher for admission to the program.
- If your unweighted HS GPA is less than 2.50 – You do not qualify for admission, regardless of test scores and may not participate in CCP.
Popular courses with PLACEMENT requirements above and beyond admission requirements:
- MATH 108 (Introductory Statistics) – 18 math ACT, 480 SAT, or Accuplacer QAS 263 (AAF scores not accepted). You must have approval from the Math Department to take this course on the AU campus on online; see Section #9 of the Online CCP Orientation for instructions.
- ENG 101 (English Composition I) – 18 English ACT, 470 SAT, 263 Accuplacer Writing, or HS GPA > 3.0 and HS sophomore.
- Foreign Languages – Take the WebCape placement assessment. See Section #9 of the Online CCP Orientation for instructions.
AU will accept Accuplacer scores from other colleges for the Reading, Writing, or QAS sections. However, we do not accept WritePlacer or math AAF scores. Please have your school counselor send your score report to collegecreditplus@photographywaltz.com.
Prospective students must upload the completed CCP permission slip to their application's status page before they will be considered for admission.
View directions on how to upload the permission slip.
Please be aware that the subject matter of some courses may include mature topics or materials of a graphic, explicit, violent or sexual nature. Courses will not be modified for CCP students regardless of where course instruction occurs. Parents should contact collegecreditplus@photographywaltz.com if they would like to request a course materials review.
Go to http://photographywaltz.com/apply-ashland-university and log in to your application as a Returning User with the credentials you created when you applied to the program. From here you'll be able to open your application and continue working on your application. Follow these additional instructions to sign & submit your application.
IMPORTANT Note Regarding Active Student Status:
Student email accounts and activation windows expire after a period. Students must either register for classes for the start term they applied for, or they must register for classes for the following semester before their original intended start term ends.
- Current students in good academic standing do not need to reapply to participate the following semester (or to continue from spring semester to the fall semester of the next academic year).
- Students who sit out for two consecutive semesters must reapply for admission, as student accounts become inactive 365 days after the end date of their most recent course.
Course Registration
If you are taking courses ONLY at your high school, Carla Coon is your advisor.
If you are taking at least one course on the Ashland campus or online, Heather McKay is your advisor.
Either CCP advisor can be contacted by emailing collegecreditplus@photographywaltz.com.
Students taking courses at their local high school will register through their high school guidance counselor.
Students taking courses on the Ashland campus or online must submit registration requests directly through Self Service. See the new student online orientation (link provided in your acceptance email) for detailed instructions.
Admission to the program does not guarantee placement in any course. Placement requirements primarily apply to English, math, and foreign languages; refer to Section #9 of the Online CCP Orientation for details.
Placement and prerequisite requirements for other courses can be found in the Course Catalog in Self Service.
Your AU advisor and the new student online orientation are available to assist you with course selection.
- Your first 15 credit hours need to be Level One courses.
- We have a list of AU's 15- and 30-Hour Pathways that may help in your decision process.
- If you're interested in business or nursing, check out our Business Academy or Nursing Academy.
When registering for online courses, you may see multiple sections. To determine which section to register for, view the list of sections reserved for CCP students.
Your AU Accounts
Self Service
View the Course Catalog, register for classes, and view your schedule and final grades.
Parent Corner
This section of the website is designed specifically for parents. We understand that you want to support your child and may feel the urge to manage certain aspects of their college experience. However, due to the federal law known as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), once your child is enrolled in college, they are considered an adult when it comes to their academic matters. As a result, they are responsible for handling their own academic affairs. This means we are unable to discuss your child's schedule, performance, or any academic concerns with you without explicit written consent from the student.
That said, your support remains invaluable. This section provides helpful resources to guide you as you assist your child through their first college courses. You'll find instructions on how they can activate their student account, register for classes, and purchase textbooks. For more detailed information, we recommend that you and your young scholar sit down together to review their online orientation (the link is included in their acceptance email).
All communication between your child and Ashland University will be done through their AU email account. This ensures that all correspondence is secure and properly documented within the college's system. Using their AU email helps faculty and staff verify their identity and ensures that their messages are processed efficiently.
If your child is not currently in the practice of using and checking their email, now is a good time to make it a habit. Your child should not use personal, high school, or parent email accounts for communication with AU staff and faculty, as we may not respond to non-AU accounts.
Upon receipt of their acceptance email, students are instructed to activate their AU account, complete the online orientation, and submit the state-required survey.
The deadlines to complete the Online CCP Orientation are:
- Fall Starters: Aug. 1 – Act early! Registration begins mid-April
- Spring Starters: Dec. 5 – Act early! Registration begins mid-November
- Summer Starters: March 31 – Act early! Registration begins in early April
Students who miss the above deadlines will need to delay their participation until the following semester.
We are excited to offer a summer on-campus orientation session that includes a campus tour and an introduction to the many resources available to your child. This session is designed to ensure a smooth transition to college life. Summer is an ideal time for this orientation, as students typically have fewer school commitments, allowing them to fully engage in the experience.
Known as Campus Quest, it is a fun, interactive event where your child will explore Ashland University services. During the event, your child will meet the CCP staff, who will provide an overview of important CCP information and give them a map of the campus to start their Quest. They will journey across the campus, learning about various services available to them as an AU CCP student. At each stop, your child will collect valuable information and have their map stamped. Once they've completed the Quest, they can return to the CCP office to pick up their Welcome Gift, which includes an engraved Hydro Flask bottle and an exclusive event T-shirt!
While we encourage parents to join Campus Quest, please note that their participation does not substitute for the student’s attendance.
General advising will be available during the session, but if you would like a more personalized conversation, we are happy to schedule a 1:1 meeting with you at any time.
A link to RSVP for the next Campus Quest is in your student's online orientation.
We look forward to supporting your child during this exciting time!
Students will browse eligible courses and submit registration requests for Ashland Campus and online courses directly through Self Service.
For AU courses taught in a HS classroom, accepted students simply need to contact their school counselor.
Admission to the program does not guarantee placement in any course. Placement requirements primarily apply to English, math, and foreign languages; refer to Section #9 of the Online CCP Orientation for details.
Placement and prerequisite requirements for other courses can be found in the Course Catalog in Self Service.
We encourage all students to obtain an Eagle Card, which provides access to university events, library services, dining (with "Eagle Dollars"), the Rec Center, and local discounts.
Students must be at least 16 years of age to utilize the CCP Membership and must have a liability form signed by their legal parent/guardian if under the age of 18. CCP students under the age of 16 and interested in using the Recreation Center may have their parent/guardian contact the Department of Recreation & Wellness at recwell@photographywaltz.com.
More details can be found in Section #11 of the Online CCP Orientation.
All students parking on campus must obtain a free parking permit. Instructions are available in Section #11 of the Online CCP Orientation. A new parking permit is needed each semester.
Cost Responsibility:
- Public and Nonpublic School Students: The high school covers textbook costs.
- Homeschool Students: Families are responsible for purchasing textbooks.
Student Responsibilities:
- Students must familiarize themselves with their school’s textbook policy before attempting to obtain textbooks.
- Students are responsible for checking which books are required for their courses by reviewing the course syllabus and visiting the AU Campus Store website.
- Students are responsible for placing orders with the AU Campus Store if their high school has an account.
Links and Resources
- CCP Info Hub Folder - a collection of handouts and forms used by the CCP office.
- Academic Catalog
- Accessibility Services
- Archer Library
- Campus Map
- Campus Store
- Campus Shield App
- Counseling Services
- Emotional Wellness Resources
- Engage Ashland - Student Organizations
- ODHE - Info for Students and Family
- Student Conduct
- Student Dining - Meal plans / Adding funds to your Eagle Card
- Technical Support Center
- Transcripts
- Tutoring Services
- University Calendars - Always confirm withdrawal dates with CCP Office
- Writing and Communication Center
Thinking of attending AU after high school?
- Scholarship for AU CCP Students - Up to $4000!
- All high school students (in the Class of 2024 and beyond) who are enrolled in the College Credit Plus program at AU and matriculate directly from high school into an AU bachelor's program will receive a yearly $1000 scholarship ($500 to be awarded in the fall semester and $500 in the spring semester). This scholarship is renewable yearly (for up to four years, or $4000), and is stackable upon other scholarships/aid.
- Explore Majors - Ashland University offers more than 60 majors and programs. Explore our degree programs and find one that is right for you.
- Submit Your Application - To attend AU after your high school graduation, submit an undergraduate application. Log in with the credentials you originally created when you applied to the CCP program and start a new application.
- Admission Questions?
