Frequently Asked Questions

New students must first be admitted into the program. SBS will collect ALL new applications at one time from their school in:

• Mid-March for the fall semester
• Mid-October for the spring semester
• Once collected, it will take approximately 1 to 4 weeks for NKU to process and admit. Students will receive an email once admitted.

After NKU has processed a student's application and the student has received their admittance email, the SBS program will be sharing similar information via a "welcome and next steps guide" that will be provided from the high school counselor to each SBS student. Please refer to the hyperlink above if you have not received this information after admittance. 

If a student is currently in the SBS program, they do not need to reapply for the next year. However, students should make sure they have discussed their dual-credit plans with their high school counselor.

Students wishing to receive an accomodation in their course will need to register with the Office for Student Accessibility.

Check out our Next Steps for Seniors page. 

Yes, for the same tuition as during the fall and spring semesters. Please note that this rate only applies while the student is in high school. Therefore, the summer after the senior year, they are no longer eligible.

Students do not need to take the ACT for program admission. However, students must also meet pre-requisites for any course they wish to take. Some courses require specific ACT scores.

Students wanting to take such a course in the summer/fall semester should take the ACT no later than the March prior. Students wanting to take such a course for the spring semester should take the ACT no later than the October prior.

Because the credits transfer as high school credits, students still earn KEES money for their courses.

No, students are not allowed to utilize KEES money for dual-credit courses. Read more about eligibility for using KEES money.

Students do not need to complete the FAFSA for the SBS program.

While students are in the SBS program earning dual credit, they are not considered “first-time, full-time freshmen.” As high school seniors, students will need to apply as freshmen to NKU or whatever college they choose. Once the students graduate high school, they will enter college as “first-time, full-time freshmen” and will be considered for freshman scholarships, freshman financial aid opportunities, and attend freshman orientation.

Yes, you may need a permit. School-Based Scholars can receive a discounted permit rate. To obtain your parking pass, please contact or visit the Parking Services Office and let them know that you're a School-Based Scholar. 

KHEAA does not begin to disburse scholarships for fall term until after October 1 and for spring term until after February 15. Students who have made selections and anticipate receiving a scholarship through the KHEAA Dual Credit/Work Ready program may see a balance on their account for covered classes.  If students pay their tuition out-of-pocket and are awarded a scholarship afterward, NKU will refund those payments to whatever method that the payer initially used to make the payment. Students who are taking classes that are not covered by KHEAA scholarships should make their payment by the first day of classes.

NKU Admissions offers in-person and virtual tours.

Any School-Based Scholar can get an NKU ID card made to receive the same privileges as full-time NKU students, such as access to the library, student admission to athletic and cultural events, and more. For more information, contact the ALL CARD office. 

The Schedule of Classes is released approximately one month prior to registration. For summer/fall courses, this will be in late February/early March. For spring courses, this will be in late September/early October.

Please note: the class schedule will not tell you how many seats are still available, for that you'll need to follow the instructions to register once admitted.

Yes, SBS students can take online classes. 

Interested students should contact their school counselor and/or an NKU advisor (once they've been admitted to the program) for more information.

Admitted SBS Students who are interested in taking classes on campus or online should set up an appointment an NKU advisor.

However, an alternative would be to have students refer to our Advising Guide by Major. Please note: This is meant to merely help guide your choices and does not take the place of an advisor. The SBS office strongly recommends meeting with our advisor as indicated above whenever possible. 

A Career Exploration Track is an option for SBS students to test out potential majors of interest by completing a track of four courses that add up to a semester's worth of that major at NKU.

For a current list of Career Exploration Tracks available, check out our Course Offerings. 

The SBS program does not recommend that any high school student sign up for a seven-week course as these courses are fast-paced in nature, restricted to online degree-seeking students, and operate on a different calendar than traditional full semester courses. The SBS office will not permit any student to take a seven-week course and most high schools will not permit students to take them as well. 

However, the SBS program cannot restrict a student from signing up on their own for a seven-week course if the system will permit them to register and their high school permits it as well. 

For a comprehensive list of what your AP scores will qualify for at NKU, please visit our NKU Course Catalog, click on the most current academic year, click on "Appendices" on the side column, then click on "Advanced Placement (AP)".

If you are currently taking an AP course, we have to have your AP score report before we can permit you into a course for the upcoming semester. 

If you have completed your AP course, please request that your AP score report is sent to NKU.

There is no limit on the number of courses a student can take at the discounted rate. However, students are not permitted to take more than 18 hours (4 or 5 courses) in any given semester. 

To find what day classes start based on the semester you're enrolling for, please visit the Registrar's website and click on the appropriate semester. 

To find the add and drop deadlines for each semester, please visit the Registrar's website and click on the appropriate semester. 

Please note: if you are a planning on dropping a course, please notify your school counselor to request the SBS office drop you from your course(s). 

Any School-Based Scholar wishing to withdraw from an NKU course after the first day of class must submit the request through their high school counselor. This can also be a College and Career Coordinator or any other designated administrator from the high school. Students must do so by the deadlines posted in the academic calendar. 

Both AP and dual-credit provide students with a rigorous academic challenge. With AP, students are learning content to prepare towards taking a qualifying test to determine if they earn college credit. Each college will award credit for AP scores differently. With dual-credit, students who successfully pass their course will earn credit at NKU which may be transferable to many other institutions.

If a student is attending a postsecondary institution - at any age - the rights under FERPA have transferred to the student.  However, when a student is enrolled in both a high school and a postsecondary institution, the two schools may exchange information on that student.  If the student is under 18, the parents still retain the rights under FERPA at the high school and may inspect and review any records sent by the postsecondary institution to the high school. 

We encourage the students to communicate with their professors about grades, course questions, etc. Additionally, students may reach out to the SBS office if they need help navigating campus resources.

This is an excellent opportunity for students to strengthen their high school curricula and experience college coursework while still in the “safe” environment of high school.  Students who start in their junior year could earn an entire semester or more of college work by the time they graduate and at significant savings.

Generally, the courses available are entry-level foundation of knowledge (general education) courses: public speaking, political science, fine arts, world religions, criminal justice, etc. This will vary with each high school. To learn more about the courses offered at your high school, please contact your high school counselor. 

Academic Advising Hold - Please email nkusbs@nku.edu to have this hold lifted if you are trying to register for courses. 

Academic Warning Hold - Your NKU GPA has fallen below a 2.0. Please email nkusbs@nku.edu for more information.

SAS Registration & Transcript Hold - Your tuition balance is over $500. In order to register for courses or order a transcript this balance must be paid under $500. For more information on how to pay your tuition, please see Cost & Fees.

SAS Uncollectable Hold - You have a balance from previous semesters. You will need to pay off your balance and contact Student Account Services to have the hold removed.

UG Credential Hold - You have applied for degree-seeking status (first-time freshman) and need to submit your final high school transcript. 

If you have another hold besides these listed, please email nkusbs@nku.edu.

Reset your password.

To unlock your account or solve a technical (myNKU/Canvas) issue, please call IT at 859-572-6911 or visit their website. 

If a student is trying to register for a course that they meet the pre-requisites for and receiving an error, they can request a permit for that course. 

To do so, students or counselors can complete the form at: SBS Course Permit Request

No Active Program Found - Please email nkusbs@nku.edu to have us fix your initial online application to reflect the correct starting semester.

Specialization Missing - Please email nkusbs@nku.edu to make sure you have been admitted to our program.

If you have another registration error message besides these listed, please email nkusbs@nku.edu.

Please see our Academic Standing Policy & Procedure for details.

Request my transcript.

The receiving institution will determine what and how courses will transfer. Please contact any institution you are considering to see how the credits will transfer.