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Free college classes are now being offered to Beaufort County students. Here’s what to know

By Anna Claire Miller

March 1, 2025 6:00 AM

High School student, center, listens to teacher Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

Ready to kick-start college or maybe make your degree a little cheaper?

This year, the Beaufort County School District and Technical College of the Lowcountry are opening applications for their 2025-2026 free dual enrollment program for high school students.

This program, called BCSD Tides, is the first semester this opportunity is open to students, allowing qualified rising ninth-grade students to enroll in a full-time dual enrollment cohort.

This program has been in the works for a while now, with BCSD and TCL working together to fit this program to the students’ needs.

Now, Beaufort County students can kick-start their higher education and have the chance to leave high school with two associate’s degrees and up to three technical certificates.

“The BCSD Tides dual enrollment model is the result of both learning institutions’ commitment to elevating student learning experiences through technology and teaching,” said Dr. Mary Stratos, chief instructional services officer for the district.

How does it work?

Like traditional dual enrollment courses, students will earn both high school and college credit for completing classes taught by TCL instructors.

Accepted students will complete the program as a cohort beginning in ninth grade and can continue through high school graduation.

According to program administrators, there will be 50 students per cohort year, divided up into groups of 25 students at each TCL location.

Students can choose one of two associate degree pathways as a ‘major’ for their ninth and 10th grade years and then can declare an associate degree minor that comes with a technical program emphasis for their junior and senior years.

Cost & fees

Dual enrollment classes are free to Beaufort County district students. In addition, the Beaufort County School District has a Memorandum of Agreement that incurs all costs, including textbooks and meals.

Who is eligible?

Students attending the following high schools are eligible for this cohort:

Bluffton
Hilton Head Island
May River High School
Whale Branch Early College
Beaufort
Battery Creek High School

Rising ninth-grade students who are interested in BCSD Tides and are currently enrolled in private, charter or homeschool organizations are also encouraged to apply.

Eligibility is based on the following criteria:

Enrolled in BCSD
Must be a legal U.S. citizen or legal resident
Must have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 unweighted scale)
A qualifying PSAT score
Additional criteria as determined by TCL Admissions and BCSD (this includes a holistic view of the student and academic readiness)

What are the benefits?

This free dual enrollment program is intended to provide more than just college credit, it provides students with critical soft skills, time management and other necessary skills to excel in higher education and the workforce.

“The BCSD Tides program reflects a deepened partnership between BCSD and TCL in providing district students with more innovative and unique opportunities to excel while in high school as well as advance their academic and professional futures,” said BCSD Superintendent Dr. Frank Rodriguez.

This program is unique in its design, as BCSD Tides students can complete the program with two associate degrees and a technical certificate from TCL.

What do they offer?

This dual enrollment program offers a variety of majors and minors that students can apply and benefit from in their future studies. These programs include:

Majors (Associate Degrees):

Associate of Arts: University Transfer Pathway
Associate of Science: University Transfer Pathway

Minors (Certificate Degrees):

Associate of Applied Science/Computer Technology-Programming
Associate of Applied Science/Computer Technology-Networking
Associate of Applied Science/Cybersecurity
Associate of Applied Science/Business Administration
Associate of Science/Allied Health Science
Associate of Science/Allied Health Science - Medical Assisting
Associate of Science/Allied Health Science - Entrepreneurship/Small Business Certificate

The option to declare a minor with a technical certificate is an added option for upper-grade high school students who want to continue specializing their education and earn class credit.

Certificate degrees are useful because they are focused on their objective and are related to a specific job or career niche, setting students apart in college applications or the workforce.

“What I enjoy most about teaching in the BCSD Tides program is how the students challenge me as an instructor,” said Daniel Herrin, an English instructor at the TCL. “They are bright and curious, always looking beyond the standard boundaries and approaches, which constantly challenges me to re-think how I teach.”

Non-BCSD students: Cost and information

Students interested in this program who do not attend a Beaufort County high school are still encouraged to apply. This includes private, charter and homeschool students.

The MOA for this program permits students within a 50-mile radius to be eligible.

Some private and charter schools may already have a dual enrollment agreement set in place, so check with your school to see if that applies.

For homeschool students, you must register as a student through the Beaufort County School District. Visit the BCSD registration page to contact the correct school.

If a student is above the ninth-grade level and is interested in this program, they can still apply but may not reap the same benefits, such as earning an associate’s degree in time for high school graduation. Their acceptance depends on available cohort space.

The BCSD and TCL are looking to keep “pure cohorts” to preserve the uniqueness of the program and allow participants to experience all these classes have to offer.

BCSD Tides student engaged in a dissection in Biology class Courtesy of Beaufort County School District

How to apply

Eligible students can apply to BCSD Tides starting March 1 through April 11, 2025.

To apply, visit https://www.beaufortschools.net/families/school-choiceprograms.

Program advisors state that applicants should be notified by mid-May of their acceptance. They also state that there will be an appeals process at the end of May for those who wish to do so.

Where are classes held?

Classes are divided between TCL’s New River Campus and Beaufort Mather Campus.

Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and May River High Schools will be located at the New River Campus in Bluffton.

Whale Branch Early College, Beaufort and Battery Creek High Schools will be located at the Beaufort Mather Campus in Beaufort.

Extracurricular activities & information sessions

Both BCSD and TCL program representatives state that before all else, students involved in this dual enrollment program are students of their zoned high schools first.

Meaning that continued participation in sports, clubs and other extracurriculars through their zoned high school is encouraged.

For more information on the program and how to apply, BCSD and TCL are hosting the following sessions:

Virtual Information Session: Wednesday, March 5

Virtual, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
RSVP here

Northern Beaufort County: Monday, March 17

Beaufort Mather Campus, Building 12 Auditorium, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
RSVP is required

Southern Beaufort County: Wednesday, March 19

New River Campus, Room 126, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
RSVP is required

If you are interested in a tour, you can visit the TCL’s New River Campus in Bluffton. You can schedule a tour by clicking here or visiting https://www.tcl.edu/bcsd-tides-program.