Those high school seniors who read up on College News, take note: dual credit classes or even actual degree programs are now being offered at many different high schools.

According to an article from the Omaha World-Herald, four metro-area districts in their area are planning programs for high school seniors where they can graduate with an associate’s degree in fields like criminal justice or others.

Students who choose to get into these programs may find their parents singing their praises. Why, you may ask? They can get off paying a reduced tuition rate. Also, the World-Herald reported that the work could help high schoolers get into their first-choice colleges and universities.

Colleges also are enjoying such programs because they get the money from the students but don’t have to pay for the professor---they’re usually high school teachers who have master’s degrees.

Some background info about dual-credit courses: those teachers who instruct the course to the high school students submit their course syllabus and other materials to prove that the course is equivalent to the college class, the article said.