Starting in August, high school students will be able to earn an associate degree from Roanoke College.
The Associate of Arts in College Foundations is designed for dual-enrollment high school students who want to get a head start on their college education. This in-person program allows them to complete their first two years of general education requirements. A grant has enabled Roanoke to offer this program at no cost to students through 2029.
To apply to the program, students must first be accepted into Explore@RC, the college’s lab school. Explore@RC is a part of Roanoke College-Roanoke Valley, the college's regional partnership and community learning initiative.
“The Associate of Arts in College Foundations creates a strategic new pathway for students in Explore@RC and for other dual-enrollment students who are ready for college-level work,” said Natasha Watts, executive director for learning innovation and Explore@RC. “It allows students to earn a liberal arts associate degree while still in high school, which can be transformative for families thinking about cost, access and long-term opportunity.”
Students pursuing their Associate of Arts at Roanoke will follow a three-year course plan beginning in 10th grade. They will enroll in existing courses alongside traditional Roanoke College students and will earn 60.25 credits by graduation. Students who begin the program in 10th grade and take summer courses will be able to earn an associate degree before graduating high school.
Roanoke College has received SACSCOC approval for the Associate of Arts in College Foundations. The program focuses on critical thinking, communication, quantitative and scientific reasoning, and ethical engagement with diverse perspectives. The academic foundation and confidence that students build through the program will prepare them for upper-division coursework at a four-year institution.
“This program was intentionally designed to connect high school students to a strong academic pathway that can support transfer, continued degree completion and career exploration. It represents an important step in expanding opportunity through Roanoke College-Roanoke Valley,” said Lisa Stoneman, assistant vice president for RC-RV.
Research from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships shows that dual-enrollment students are 12% more likely to enter college within seven months of high school graduation and 11% more likely to persist into the second year of college.
“This approval reflects Roanoke College’s commitment to meeting students where they are and building pathways that are both academically strong and practically meaningful. For many students, this degree creates a bridge between high school, college and career in a way that feels attainable and clear,” Watts said.
This year, the Associate of Arts in College Foundations pathway is only open to students who are currently enrolled in Explore@RC. New students interested in Explore@RC or the associate of arts pathway will apply for the next application cycle.
Students can apply to Explore@RC by completing and submitting this paper application by March 1 to start in the fall or by December 1 to start in the spring. Once they’re accepted, students may apply to the Associate of Arts program and be officially admitted after they have successfully passed midterms in their first semester of Explore@RC. For more information, contact Watts at nwatts@roanoke.edu.