Students in Ohio Get More Than Just a Diploma

Earning an associates degree is a great way to kick start you career without spending many years in school. Students earning their high school diploma in Ohio have however managed to kill two birds with one stone. These motivated students were able to earn their associates degree while they were earning their diplomas.

While more than 440 graduates were awarded diplomas or certificates last week at Northwest State Community College, a handful accomplished an interesting feat -- earning their associate's degree prior to being awarded their high school diploma.

Those students were enrolled in the Ohio Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program, allowing them to take coursework to earn an associate's degree while finishing up their high school degree.

Each year, the state allocates a predetermined amount of money per student in basic funding to the schools. By enrolling in this program, a portion of that funding goes to pay for college-level classes, allowing teen-agers the option of earning college credits free of charge.

With the downturn in the economy and the rising cost of a college education, it's been a good time to enroll in the post-secondary program.

And many students took advantage of this opportunity during fiscal year 2008.

This is a great idea that I hope catches on in more areas. Those who have the motivation to complete an associate's degree program will find that they have more opportunities when looking for employment, or they will have an advantage when going to college.