For Marcela Mendez (Benton), taking college coursework in high school was more than a head start on credits — it was the foundation that propelled her from Rend Lake College to SIU Carbondale and all the way to a master’s degree program in London.
“The enrollment process went really smoothly, thanks to the support I got from my advisors and teachers at both Benton High School and Rend Lake College,” Marcela shared. “They guided me every step of the way, helping me stay organized and ensuring I signed up for the classes I needed to complete my credit requirements. Their support made the process smooth and stress-free.”
Mendez took a mix of dual credit courses taught by her high school teachers and dual enrollment courses taken directly through the College. Though the college coursework was a bit more challenging, with great time management, flexibility, and encouragement from her advisors, she was able to excel.
“My biggest piece of advice is to stay proactive and ask questions early. Dual credit courses can be incredibly rewarding, but they also come with a lot of responsibility,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to your high school counselors, college advisors, or professors if you’re unsure about anything — whether it’s course selection, credit transfers, or graduation requirements.”
Mendez also made the most of every opportunity that came her way. As a fluent Spanish speaker, she earned 16 elective credits by taking a biliteracy exam — a strategic move that not only recognized her language skills but also helped her fulfill graduation requirements quickly.
“My high school worked with me to make sure those credits counted. That kind of flexibility really helped keep me on track,” she said.
By the time she finished high school, Mendez had earned 68 college credit hours, completing both an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science. That head start allowed her to complete a bachelor’s degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in just three years. From there, she went on to a dual internship and study abroad program in London, eventually earning her master’s degree in entrepreneurial studies.
For Mendez, dual credit and dual enrollment were not just a way to save time or money — they marked the beginning of a path defined by lifelong learning, leadership, and opportunity.
Fall Semester Junior Year of High School:
Mendez’s courses during the Fall Semester were RLC dual credit courses offered by Benton Consolidated High School.
|
Course |
Title |
Credit Hour Amount |
Course Type |
|
HIST 1101 |
Western Civilization I |
3.00 |
Dual Credit |
|
MATH 1108 |
College Algebra |
3.00 |
Dual Credit |
|
MUSI 1100 |
Music Appreciation |
3.00 |
Dual Credit |
|
PSYC 2101 |
Intro to Psychology |
3.00 |
Dual Credit |
*Total credit hours = 12.00
Spring Semester Junior Year of High School:
Mendez’s courses during the Spring Semester were RLC dual credit courses offered by Benton Consolidated High School.
|
Course |
Title |
Credit Hour Amount |
Course Type |
|
ART 1101 |
Art Appreciation |
3.00 |
Dual Credit |
|
HIST 1102 |
Western Civilization II |
3.00 |
Dual Credit |
|
MATH 1109 |
Plane Trigonometry |
3.00 |
Dual Credit |
|
PSYC 2102 |
Child Psychology |
3.00 |
Dual Credit |
*Total credit hours = 12.00
Summer Semester between Junior and Senior Years of High School:
During the Summer Semester, Mendez’s courses were dual enrollment classes through RLC. These courses are not offered at Benton Consolidated High School as dual credit.
|
Course |
Title |
Credit Hour Amount |
Course Type |
|
HEA 1101 |
Health Education |
2.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
|
HIST 2101 |
American History I |
3.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
*Total credit hours = 5.00
Fall Semester Senior Year of High School:
During the Fall Semester, Mendez’s courses were dual enrollment classes through RLC. These courses are not offered at Benton Consolidated High School as dual credit.
|
Course |
Title |
Credit Hour Amount |
Course Type |
|
MATH 1107 |
Contemporary College Math |
3.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
|
PHIL 1101 |
Intro to Philosophy |
3.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
|
PHSC 1102 |
Earth Science |
3.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
*Total credit hours = 9.00
Spring Semester Senior Year of High School:
During the Spring Semester, Mendez’s courses were dual enrollment classes through RLC. These courses are not offered at Benton Consolidated High School as dual credit.
|
Course |
Title |
Credit Hour Amount |
Course Type |
|
COMM 1101 |
Effective Speech |
3.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
|
CULA 1205 |
Food Sanitation |
1.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
|
ENGL 1101 |
Rhetoric/Composition I |
3.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
*Total credit hours = 7.00
Summer Semester after Senior Year of High School:
During the Summer Semester, Mendez’s courses were dual enrollment classes through RLC. These courses are not offered at Benton Consolidated High School as dual credit.
|
Course |
Title |
Credit Hour Amount |
Course Type |
|
BIO 1100 |
Biology for Non-Majors |
4.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
|
ENGL 1102 |
Rhetoric/Composition II |
3.00 |
Dual Enrollment |
*Total credit hours = 7.00
Other Courses:
To fulfill high school and college language requirements, Mendez tested out of Spanish coursework using a state biliteracy exam, earning 16 proficiency credit hours.
“This not only validated my language skills but also awarded me elective credits that were essential for completing my associate degree,” said Mendez. “The school worked with me to ensure those credits were properly applied, which helped me meet both high school and college graduation requirements.”
|
Course |
Title |
Credit Hour Amount |
Course Type |
|
SPAN 1101 |
Elementary Spanish I |
4.00 |
Credit by Exam |
|
SPAN 1102 |
Elementary Spanish II |
4.00 |
Credit by Exam |
|
SPAN 2101 |
Modern Spanish I |
4.00 |
Credit by Exam |
|
SPAN 2102 |
Modern Spanish II |
4.00 |
Credit by Exam |
*Total credit hours = 16.00
RLC maintains an in-district tuition rate at $110 per credit hour and a universal fee (includes costs associated with textbooks, technology costs which directly support academic functions, and other general costs associated with academic services of the College) at $42 per credit hour.
The partnership between RLC and the high school allows us to offer dual credit FREE of charge. No fees or tuition will be charged for traditional dual credit classes. (Traditional dual credit classes are taught by qualified high school instructors using college curriculum at the high school campus during regular school hours.)
Tuition for dual enrollment will be half-cost for eight hours per semester. Any courses taken beyond eight hours are billed at the standard tuition rate. Students are responsible for course fees, supplies, and textbook costs.
To calculate your estimated cost of attending, use RLC’s free Net Price Calculator.
Juniors and seniors attending a high school in the Rend Lake College district may take advantage of dual credit courses per the terms and conditions set forth in 110 ILCS 27/1-30. Students must meet requirements and prerequisites prior to enrolling in courses. Students must be approved by their school counselor to participate in the program by being enrolled in a Dual Credit qualified class.
High school juniors and seniors, either home-schooled or attending a high school in the RLC district, may take advantage of dual enrollment by enrolling in courses which take place after the normal high school day. Students must meet placement requirements and prerequisites prior to enrolling in courses.
Visit RLC’s First-Time Students page to get started. Apply to RLC now by clicking here.