Texas Border Business
By Amanda Sotelo
RIO GRANDE VALEY, Texas – South Texas College’s nationally recognized Dual Credit Programs is celebrating a 12% enrollment increase for the 2026-2027 academic year – a milestone that represents advances in college readiness for students across Hidalgo and Starr Counties.
Nearly 13,000 students are now being served through STC’s Dual Credit Programs, an increase from 11,511 students last academic year.
“For the last 26 years, we have changed the lives of more than 150,000 students through our dual credit programs,” said Associate Vice President of Dual Credit Programs and School District Partnerships Rebecca De Leon, Ed.D. “Growing dual credit enrollment reflects the growing awareness among students, families and our school district partners of the value of starting college in high school with STC Dual Credit Programs.”
STC’s Dual Credit Programs was recently reaccredited through the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) and still remains the only accredited dual credit program in Texas, upholding its promise of providing students from its more than 21 school district partnerships, with a high-quality college education.
Roma Independent School District Career Technology Education (CTE) and College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) Director Jaime Escobar Jr. said his district has seen about a 30% increase in students participating in dual credit and this has been in part with STC’s pivotal role in creating and facilitating a seamless high school-to-college transition.
“STC does a phenomenal job in fostering its school district partnerships and ensuring that our district, our students and their parents are always well informed. It’s no surprise they’re seeing record enrollment,” he said. “STC takes the lead when it comes to educating students and parents about the benefits of dual credit and how much money they can save, especially in today’s economy. STC is the leader in dual credit here in the RGV, and we’re proud to be a partner.”
Over the last two decades, STC has provided tuition-free dual credit programs, saving families more than $464 million, while offering more than 1,400 courses, taught by more than 500 highly-trained dual credit faculty and graduating thousands every fall and spring semester.
From traditional academics to specialized pathways in areas such as business, healthcare and technology, STC’s Dual Credit Programs offer students multiple pathways that create a college and workforce-ready population.
Some of those students come from Donna ISD, where Debra Medrano, executive director for Secondary Leadership, is seeing an increase in how many of their dual credit students are graduating from STC.
“Donna ISD recently reached the milestone of having a dedicated early college high school, and it’s possible because of our partnership with STC,” she said. “Last year, we had our largest graduating class to date – 43 dual credit graduates who received an associate degree. This year, we are expecting 57 graduates. We know if we’re partnered with STC, this number will continue to grow. Their efforts are unmatched here in the Rio Grande Valley, which is why we’re all experiencing success.”
De Leon said that through the program’s strong partnerships with area school districts, such as Roma and Donna ISDs, they are changing students’ perspectives of college and what can be achieved.
“This growth represents both an opportunity and a responsibility to continue expanding access while maintaining the quality and support that our students deserve,” she said. “Through our strong partnerships with area school districts, we are helping more students earn college credit, save time and money and explore academic and career pathways while still in high school. Most importantly, these opportunities can change what students see as possible for their future, opening doors to college completion, careers and continued education that may have once seemed out of reach.”
For more information on STC’s Dual Credit Programs, visit southtexascollege.edu/dual.
