Image
Image
Get a head start on college while you're still in high school.
College Credit Plus (CCP) allows eligible Ohio students in grades 7–12 to earn high school and college credit at the same time through Ashland University.
- Take courses online, on the Ashland campus, at your high school (if offered), or combine all three while exploring your interests, earning college credit, and preparing for your future.
- As an Ashland CCP student, you'll have access to university resources, supportive faculty, and a dedicated CCP team to help you succeed.
- View our College Credit Plus Informational Booklet.
Looking for Course Ideas?
Explore the resources below to discover courses that match your interests and goals. Your CCP Orientation will help you plan your schedule, and you'll have the opportunity to meet with an advisor if you have questions.
- Level One Courses
- All new CCP students must begin with approved Level One courses during their first 15 college credit hours. These courses provide a strong foundation for college success.
- CCP Pathways
- Explore recommended course plans based on popular majors and career interests.
- Not sure what to study? The Foundations Pathway is designed for students who are still exploring their options.
- Watch for courses marked “Core”—these general education courses are required for every bachelor's degree and are a great option if you're still exploring your interests.
- Interested in nursing? The Nursing Academy is a specialized pathway with its own requirements. Its courses are listed in the CCP Pathways spreadsheet and the Nursing Academy handout.
- Online CCP Courses
- Take advantage of online course flexibility with sections reserved specifically for CCP students, making it easier to find available classes that fit your schedule.
- Partner High School Courses
- If your high school partners with Ashland University, you may be able to earn Ashland credit without leaving your school.
Important Action Deadlines for Participation
Application and Orientation Deadlines
| Term | Step 1: Apply to AU | Step 2: Submit Documents (Permission Slip and Transcript) |
Step 3: Complete Orientation* (Must be completed prior to course registration) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | May 1 March 1 for Nonpublic/Homeschool |
May 15 March 15 for Nonpublic/Homeschool |
June 1 |
| Spring | Oct. 15 Oct. 1 for Nonpublic/Homeschool |
Nov. 1 Oct. 15 for Nonpublic/Homeschool |
Nov. 15 |
| Summer | March 1 | March 15 | April 1 |
Upcoming Semester Dates
| Term | Registration Opens | Semester Start** | CCP No-Fault Drop Deadline | Withdrawal Deadline** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | April 13, 2026 | Aug. 31, 2026 | 14th Day of Term | Nov. 3, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 | Nov. 16, 2026 | Jan. 11, 2027 | 14th Day of Term | Mar. 23, 2027 |
| Summer 2027 | April 5, 2027 | A Term: May 10, 2027 B Term: July 6, 2027 |
14th Day of Term | A Term: June 9. 2027 B Term: Aug. 9, 2027 |
*Students who miss this deadline may be required to delay their participation to the following semester.
**These dates apply only to 16-week Ashland campus courses and 8-week summer online courses. Deadlines for other course formats and locations may vary. The Registrar's Office publishes the university's official academic deadlines; however, CCP students should use these dates as a general guide only. Always plan ahead and consult your CCP advisor before dropping or withdrawing from a course to confirm the applicable deadline. Students should also speak with their high school counselor to ensure the change will not affect graduation requirements or their high school schedule.
Eligibility and Admission Requirements
To participate in College Credit Plus, students must meet Ohio CCP eligibility and residency requirements, as well as Ashland University admission requirements.
Important Information
- Admission to the AU CCP program does not guarantee enrollment in a particular course. Students must meet all course placement, prerequisite, and registration requirements.
- 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@ashland.edu if they would like to request a course materials review.
- For complete state program guidelines, visit the Ohio Department of Higher Education website.
- Public school students: Submit the Letter of Intent to your school counselor by April 1 for the following school year, or by November 1 if you miss the April 1 deadline.
-
Nonpublic and homeschool families: Submit the Ohio CCP funding application through a parent’s OH|ID account by April 1, or by November 1 if you miss the April deadline. Follow Step 3 on the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce website. Your AU admission letter is required with the application, so apply early enough to receive and upload it. Ohio does not accept late funding applications.
Students may qualify for admission to Ashland University through one of the following options:
Option 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)
Option 2: Test-Optional Admission
Students qualify through either of the following:
- 3.00 or higher unweighted cumulative high school GPA*
- 2.85–2.99 unweighted cumulative high school GPA* and grades of A or B in all relevant coursework areas (math, English, science, and social studies)
*Students must have completed the ninth grade to qualify for test-optional admission. A cumulative GPA for this purpose must include at least one final HS grade in each of the relevant coursework areas (math, English, science, and social studies). Students who have not completed the ninth grade must follow Option 1 and submit a current grade card showing grades of A or B in those subjects; an assessment score is still required.
How to Apply to AU
Submit the AU CCP Application, entering the STUDENT'S PERSONAL email address.
Do not use a parent email address and avoid high school email accounts that typically block outside messages. After submitting the application:
- Ask your school counselor to send an official high school transcript to the CCP Office.
- Submit the CCP Permission Slip by uploading it to your application or emailing the completed form to collegecreditplus@ashland.edu.
- Watch your email. Admission decisions and next steps are sent electronically. Ashland University does not mail acceptance letters. (If you have not received a decision within 1-2 weeks, check your spam/junk folder. If you still do not see anything, contact us.)
Admission & Placement Testing: Not every CCP student needs to complete admission testing, since AU offers both test-optional and test-based routes to admission. If testing is required, the CCP Office will contact you with instructions.
Image
Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions
Because AU offers both test-optional and test-based admission, most CCP students are admitted without test scores.
- If admission testing is required, the CCP Office will contact you with instructions. Be sure to monitor the email address used on your application.
- Students who have not completed the ninth grade should expect to take the Accuplacer or provide qualifying ACT/SAT scores.
- Students planning to take MATH 108 (Introductory Statistics) should also expect to provide qualifying ACT/SAT scores or Accuplacer QAS scores for placement.
Important: Admission testing and course placement are not the same thing. Some courses have additional placement requirements. Students are responsible for reviewing the CCP Orientation and ensuring they meet any course placement requirements before registering for classes.
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@ashland.edu.
Not all CCP students need to test for admission. If admission testing is required, the CCP Office will contact you with instructions for scheduling a free Accuplacer exam through the AU Testing Center.
Visit the Ashland University application portal and log in as a Returning User using the username and password you created when you applied. Open your application to continue where you left off.
Before submitting, complete the final steps of the application, including:
- Typing your full name as your electronic signature
- Submitting the application in the final section
If you cannot remember your login credentials, use the portal's password reset option.
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@ashland.edu.
Once admitted, you must activate your AU account and complete the Online CCP Orientation (the link is included in your acceptance email). After that, registering for courses is easy:
- Search for approved courses in Self Service.
- Add your selected courses to your course plan (cart).
- Click Request Review to submit your course requests to your CCP advisor.
Your advisor will review your selections and contact you if any changes are needed. Step-by-step instructions are provided in the Online CCP Orientation.
Deadlines for completing orientation:
- Fall starters: June 1
- Spring starters: Nov. 15
- Summer starters: Apr. 1
Even if your AU CCP course is taught at your high school, you must complete the same admission and registration steps as any other CCP student.
- Apply and be admitted to the CCP program.
- Upon admission, activate your AU account right away, AND
- Complete the Online CCP Orientation and submit the form at the end.
Important: Being added to your high school's roster does not register you for college credit. Your counselor can reserve your seat in the high school class, but only the AU CCP Office can register you in Ashland University's system. Your registration is not complete until it has been processed by AU.
Check your AU email regularly and use it for all communication with Ashland University.
Your AU email is the university's official method of communication. Important information about registration, deadlines, course updates, and action items will be sent there. Missing an email does not excuse a missed deadline.
Because of FERPA, AU faculty and staff communicate directly with students, not parents. When contacting university offices or instructors, always use your AU email account rather than a personal, high school, or parent email address.
Being a college student means taking responsibility for your own communication. Make it a habit to check your AU email frequently and respond promptly when action is required.
Your AU Accounts
Ashland University uses Microsoft Outlook.
Self Service
View the Course Catalog, register for classes, and view your schedule and final grades.
Blackboard
Access your courses and materials (but not until the first day of class).
Portal
Access campus news, directories, and commonly used forms.
Parent Corner
Welcome, Parents! We know you want to support your child's success in CCP, and your encouragement plays an important role. At the college level, however, students are responsible for managing their own academic affairs. Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Ashland University cannot discuss a student's schedule, grades, academic progress or other educational records without the student's written consent.
This section provides resources to help you support your student as they begin their college experience. You'll find information about student accounts, course registration, textbooks and other common topics. For detailed instructions, we encourage you to review the Online CCP Orientation together. A link to the orientation is included in your student's acceptance email.
AU email is the university's official method of communication. Important information about registration, deadlines, course updates and account access will be sent to your student's AU email account.
Because of FERPA, AU faculty and staff communicate directly with students regarding their educational records. Parents should encourage their students to check their AU email regularly and use it when contacting university offices or instructors.
The orientation contains important information about registration, textbooks, course placement, academic expectations and student resources.
After admission, students must:
- Review the Online CCP Orientation
- Activate their AU account
- Submit the form at the end of the orientation
Orientation completion deadlines:
- Fall starters: June 1
- Spring starters: November 15
- Summer starters: April 1
Students who miss these deadlines may be required to delay participation until the following semester.
Campus Quest is our optional summer on-campus orientation event designed to help students become familiar with Ashland University and the resources available to them.
Students meet CCP staff, explore campus services, and learn how to navigate college life before classes begin. 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 your child at any time.
Parents are encouraged to attend.
An RSVP link is provided in the Online CCP Orientation.
No. Students must request their own course registration.
After admission, students receive registration instructions through the Online CCP Orientation. Parents are welcome to discuss course choices with their students, but registration requests must be submitted by the student through the approved AU process.
We encourage all students to obtain their Eagle Mobile ID, 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 Rec Center 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@ashland.edu.
More details can be found in your student's orientation.
All registered students at Ashland University who will be parking their vehicles on campus must complete the required registration process prior to parking on campus.
Instructions are available in your student's orientation.
Who pays for textbooks?
- Public and nonpublic school students: Textbook costs are covered by the high school.
- Homeschooled students: Families are responsible for purchasing textbooks.
How can I help my student obtain textbooks?
- Review your high school's textbook policy.
- Encourage your student to check course syllabi and textbook requirements.
- Remind your student to follow the textbook ordering instructions provided in the Online CCP Orientation before classes begin.
Most of our high school partners direct students to order textbooks through the AU Campus Store, but policies vary by high school. Students are responsible for reviewing the textbook instructions in the Online CCP Orientation and, when required, placing their own textbook orders. School counselors typically do not order textbooks on a student's behalf.
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
- 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
Image
Thinking of attending AU after high school?
- 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?
Image
