Columbus State-led initiative to expand access to College Credit Plus in high-demand job fields
New statewide waiver allows more high-school students to earn college credit and save money as they prepare for advanced manufacturing careers
Campus News | Thursday, May 8, 2025
Columbus State President David Harrison (second from right) speaks about the state’s approval of College Credit Plus program expansion for more Ohio high schoolers to access college credit in in-demand careers.
More Ohio high schoolers can now take College Credit Plus classes and earn free college credit through a new statewide waiver championed by Columbus State Community College.
The Ohio Department of Higher Education recently approved the waiver, which expands access to CCP courses for students interested in high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing. For courses leading to engineering technology certificates and degrees, the waiver eliminates barriers that have historically prevented some high schoolers from participating in CCP.
“As we continue our work to strengthen Ohio’s workforce pipeline, one of our top goals is to provide as many of our students as possible the chance to gain experience in the jobs that will define Ohio’s future,” said Lt. Gov. Tressel, who announced the new waiver today during a meeting of the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board at Columbus State Community College. “The expansion of College Credit Plus eligibility will give more of our home-grown talent an affordable pathway to high-demand careers like advanced manufacturing and others, and will allow us as a state, to be ready to fill the jobs we need to fill.”
Columbus State is the largest provider of College Credit Plus courses in Ohio, serving more than 10,000 students per year. CCP is Ohio’s dual enrollment program, enabling students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking courses from Ohio colleges or universities. CCP is cost-free to students.
“Expanding College Credit Plus to increase access to in-demand technology fields is an innovative solution we’re proud to champion,” said David Harrison, Columbus State president. “This will open the door for students from all backgrounds to great jobs and high-growth careers. We are very grateful to Lt. Gov. Tressel and Chancellor Duffey for their support of this idea. It will make an enormous difference for many students, families, and employers.”
Columbus State, along with Sinclair Community College and Lorain County Community College, applied for the statewide innovative waiver to eliminate requirements that students achieve a cumulative unweighted 3.0 grade-point average or pass placement tests before taking entry level engineering technologies College Credit Plus courses. Students still must pass CCP courses to earn dual credit, but the waiver eliminates the need to meet a specific GPA or test score level prerequisites.
The waiver applies to College Credit Plus students pursuing technician degrees or certificates in electro-mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, manufacturing equipment and semiconductor fundamentals. JobsOhio, the state’s economic development nonprofit, and advanced manufacturing employers also supported the waiver.
There is strong and growing demand for engineering technicians with associate degrees or specialized certificates offered by Columbus State and other Ohio community colleges. Ohio has the third-largest advanced manufacturing workforce in the country, with thousands of jobs being created here by investments in the semiconductor, bioscience and electric vehicle battery production industries.
“Ohio’s fastest growing jobs include engineering technician roles connected to advanced manufacturing,” Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Mike Duffey said. “Our statewide innovative waivers open this opportunity to many more K-12 students who want to get a head start on the jobs of the future. Columbus State, Sinclair, and Lorain County Community College are already among the largest schools providing these credentials and, of course, do an exceptional job creating opportunity for Ohio students. Given recent announcements regarding growth in manufacturing jobs, this is an opportunity for students to earn technology-focused degrees - in many cases partially paid for by an employer.”
Columbus State is working with high school and career center partners who have existing engineering technologies coursework to help them understand the opportunities provided by this waiver. In fall 2024, CCP students who enrolled in engineering technologies coursework had a 100% success rate. The new waiver will enable CCP providers to increase the number of students who can access those courses.
“As more and more manufacturers choose Ohio to expand operations, the need for highly skilled workers continues to rise,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “The College Credit Plus waiver accelerates and expands Ohio’s talent pipeline, such as technicians and other high-demand occupations. By earning college credit and industry-recognized credentials through applied learning, students gain a head start in the fields that are critical to Ohio’s economic growth.”
The waiver will be among the topics discussed at the May 15 summit of the Central Ohio Compact, a regional collaborative led by Columbus State and the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio that focuses on increasing educational attainment to advance career success for students and meet Ohio’s workforce needs. The Central Ohio Compact involves K-12, higher education, employers and workforce leaders.
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