Dual Credit Program jump starts college and career

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s dual credit program allows students to earn high school and college credit simultaneously at half the cost of normal tuition. Beyond saving time and money, dual credit prepares students for a successful transition to being an ECTC student.  

Emily Hildebrandt, ECTC dual credit graduate and current ECTC student, knew this was the right fit for her.  

“I knew I wanted to go into nursing,” Hildebrandt said. "With dual credit, I was able to take general education courses and earn an associate in science so that when I graduated high school, I could transition straight into the nursing program.”

Hildebrandt chose to stay at ECTC after high school because she liked the college’s location, campus and smaller class sizes.

“Plus, ECTC’s nursing program comes highly recommended,” she said.

ECTC has dual credit counselors who assist students while in the program and through their transition to college student after graduating high school.

“The dual credit counselor helped me through everything, so it was a very easy process,” Hildebrandt said.  

The nursing program has been a challenge that requires dedication, Hildebrandt said, but the support from ECTC has allowed her to meet that challenge.

“It’s very, very easy to talk with instructors and we know they’re here for us, which is a huge help,” she said.  

Hildebrandt will graduate in Spring 2024 and will work in Baptist Health Hardin’s Emergency Department. She credits ECTC’s dual credit program with allowing her to get a jump start on her career.

“With dual credit, I’ve been able to find success earlier than I otherwise would have and save money at the same time,” she said. “And the transition from dual credit student to ECTC student couldn’t have been easier. I’m saving time and money and earning my degree at the college I know and love.”