Founded in 1959, Saint Louis University’s 1818 Advanced College Credit Program is the oldest dual credit program in America west of the Mississippi River.
The 1818 Program has a long history of providing high school students the opportunity to earn college credit from Saint Louis University and their high school at a significantly reduced tuition rate.
The 1818 Advanced College Credit Program originated in 1959 as a joint project between SLU and two Jesuit high schools, Saint Louis University High School and Xavier High School, as a means for accelerating the academic progress of highly motivated and high-achieving students. Today, SLU 1818 is a premiere, nationally recognized dual credit provider.
The 1818 Program facilitates collaboration between high school and university faculties to provide rigorous university courses for high school students in the Jesuit educational tradition. Courses offered through the 1818 Program are the same courses taken by SLU’s undergraduate, degree-seeking students at our St. Louis campus and online programs.
Benefits of Taking Dual-Credit Classes
Dual credit is an educational opportunity that allows high school students to enroll in college courses and simultaneously earn both high school and college credits for the same course. This approach provides students with the opportunity to experience college-level coursework while still in high school, at a significantly reduced cost.
- Academic Advancement: Students can get a head start on their college education, potentially reducing the time and cost needed to complete a college degree.
- Variety of Courses: The 1818 Program offers a variety of dual credit core subjects such as English, math, and science. Course offerings vary by participating high school.
- Increased College Readiness: Dual credit is a collaboration between high schools and colleges. The 1818 Program at SLU works with partner high schools to ensure that coursework being taught through the program meets both high school and college standards.
- Cost Savings and Scholarship Opportunities: Students that participate in dual credit programs save thousands of dollars in college tuition. Not to mention, the 1818 Program provides significant scholarship funding to all partner high schools to ensure our program is as accessible as possible.
- Transferability: Credits earned through SLU’s 1818 Program are highly transferable to many colleges and universities nationwide.
- College Immersion Opportunities: The 1818 Program provides numerous opportunities for high school students to experience college before stepping on campus including research opportunities, access to undergraduate tools and databases, campus reads and competitions, and leadership experiences.
Dual credit can be an excellent way for motivated high school students to enhance their education and prepare for their future. Students are encouraged to contact their school's 1818 Program Coordinator to determine if dual credit is the right path for their academic journey.
1818 vs. AP
Your high school may offer opportunities to earn 1818 and Advanced Placement (AP) credit. When comparing the two options, keep in mind that the university you attend may have different policies on each. If you have a specific college in mind that you’d like to attend, or a specific degree program in mind, it is important to research what these policies are in advance before deciding whether 1818 coursework or AP coursework is right for you.
| - | SLU 1818 | AP |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsoring organization/institution | Saint Louis University | The College Board |
| Location | Courses are taught in the high school classroom by the students high school instructor. | |
| High school credit | Students receive high school credit for the course. | |
| College admissions | Rigorous coursework in high school supports a strong college application. Check with individual schools to see how they view dual credit versus AP coursework. | |
| How is the grade or score earned? | Students earn a final letter grade based on work completed throughout the course. | Students take a standardized test at the end of the course for a numeric AP exam score. |
| Do the credits or scores appear on an official college transcript? | Yes | No |
| Grade reporting | Students earn an A through F grade on an official SLU transcript. | Students receive a score of 1 through 5, which universities interpret for potential credit. |
| Cost | SLU 1818 courses cost $75 per credit hour and most courses are three to four credit hours. This represents a cost savings of greater than 90% when compared to a traditional on-campus SLU course. | The direct cost of an AP exam is $97. Schools may charge more to cover administration costs. |
| Financial assistance | SLU 1818 awards $100,000 in scholarships to students each academic year. See the 1818 coordinator at your high school to be considered. | AP, state, school and district subsidies may be available for qualified students. See your high school's AP coordinator for details. |
| College enrollment | Yes | No |
|
Accreditation (third-party oversight) |
SLU 1818 is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is directly overseen by the associate provost of the University. | No |
|
Where do credits/scores transfer? |
SLU 1818 credit transfers to the majority of colleges and institutions nationwide. Results may vary for highly selective universities or degree programs. | AP's credit policy search allows users to learn how colleges interpret AP exam scores. |
Who is Eligible to Participate in the 1818 Program?
Students may register for the 1818 Advanced College Credit Program if they meet the following standards:
Juniors and seniors must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 cumulative weighted scale and electronic approval of the 1818 course instructor or 1818 partner coordinator. Juniors and seniors who have achieved an average 3.0 weighted GPA in the previous 2 semesters may be an exception.
Sophomores are eligible to enroll in 1818 courses in certain circumstances, to include sequenced 1818 courses in mathematics (college algebra, pre-calculus, calculus I, calculus II, calculus III), foreign languages (courses numbered 1010 or above) and computer science. Sophomores may be approved by 1818 partners to enroll if the students have:
- a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 cumulative weighted scale and
- completed the pre-requisite course(s) with a grade(s) of B or higher and
- electronic approval of the 1818 course instructor, 1818 coordinator and parent/guardian
There are no exceptions to the above requirements.
Freshmen are not eligible to enroll in 1818 courses. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Cost Savings
Compared to the cost of a normal class, 1818 Program dual-credit classes are offered at a significantly discounted rate for the same quality of college coursework at the undergraduate level.
Tuition for the 1818 program is billed based on the number of credit hours the student is enrolled in. 1818 Program tuition is $75 per credit hour.
With most 1818 courses running at three-credit-hours each, the average cost of one dual credit class $225. For comparison, the cost to take the same class at an undergraduate level costs thousands of dollars at both public and private institutions.
We recognize that even at discounted rates, tuition through the 1818 Program is substantial for many families. We encourage students and parents to research in advance how dual credit classes may fit into their long-term higher education goals. Scholarships are also available to students and should be researched prior to registering for 1818 coursework.