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The Indiana College Core is a long-term certificate, known as a technical certificate, offered by Ivy Tech consisting of a block of 30 credit hours toward general education requirements. The credits are guaranteed to transfer to another Indiana public college or university (that's a guarantee backed by the Indiana legislature!). Thirty credit hours are equivalent to your first year in college. So if you're taking Ivy Tech classes in high school through Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment (see the difference), and you complete the Indiana College Core, you could earn your first year of college credits before you graduate!
The Core is offered at more than 100 Indiana high schools and 29 Ivy Tech locations throughout the state as well as 100% online. Full-time students typically take two semesters, or one year to complete the Core.
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To earn the Core, students must take at least three credit hours in six general education competency areas, as well as an additional 12 “elective” credit hours from the same competencies (totaling 30 credit hours). Once these credits have been earned, you will have fulfilled the core requirements equivalent to your first year of college.
If you complete the Indiana College Core in high school, it's an easy transition into Ivy Tech full-time after graduation. You'll already have one year of credits under your belt and only one more year of classes to complete an associate degree of your choice (an associate is a 2-year degree).
Suppose your goal is a bachelor's degree. In that case, you can complete the 30-credit Indiana College Core by taking Ivy Tech classes in high school and then enroll in any public Indiana four-year university as a sophomore after you graduate. Ivy Tech calls this the Start as a Sophomore pathway.
High school students on the Start as a Sophomore pathway who complete their first year of college at Ivy Tech through Dual Enrollment classes (where students pay tuition) can save more than $5,000 on their bachelor's degree. Dual Credit high school students, who take classes for free at their high school, can save even more!
SAVE $5,000+
The Indiana College Core is also offered at Indiana high schools that meet certain criteria established by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. To find out if your high school offers the Core, use the Indiana Commission for Higher Education's High School Finder. Select only the "Ivy Tech" box to see which high schools have Ivy Tech as their primary college partner.
Find high schools offering the Indiana College Core: Desktop | Mobile
High schools are continuously being added to this list, so also check with your counselor to see what is offered at your school.
Ivy Tech's Indiana College Core Technical Certificate (TC)—also known as the Start as a Sophomore pathway—is available at 29 Ivy Tech locations throughout the state as well as 100% online through IvyOnline. If you don’t see a location listed, the Indiana College Core is not being offered there at this time.
When you earn the Indiana College Core in high school, after you graduate you can begin pursuing your bachelor's degree with automatic sophomore status at any Indiana public four-year institution. Choose from the following Indiana colleges and universities:
The Indiana College Core is based on competencies and learning outcomes in six areas:
Foundational Intellectual Skills |
Ways of Knowing |
1. Speaking & Listening 2. Written Communication 3. Quantitative Reasoning |
4. Scientific Ways of Knowing 5. Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing 6. Humanistic & Artistic Ways of Knowing |
The Indiana College Core completion guide provides the recommended path to graduation, broken out into eight-week terms. Typical path to completion is one year. Courses are numbered to show an overall quantity for students taking fewer classes at a time. Consult with your advisor to determine which classes are the best option for you to take.
Use this handy checklist to monitor student progress toward fulfilling the Indiana College Core. You can check off completed courses, add subtotals for each competency area, and tally total completed credits.
To get started, simply apply to Ivy Tech! You'll soon be on your way to saving thousands of dollars as you complete the Indiana College Core through Ivy Tech while you're in high school.
If you have questions or need assistance we’re available every day, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. via phone at 888-IVY-LINE (888-489-5463) or online chat.
Don't see a nearby High School Programs location? Call 1-888-489-5463 and we'll get you started.
Director of K-14 Initiatives & Recruitment
Sammie Hardebeck
shardebeck3@ivytech.edu
812-934-3954, ext. 8119
Executive Director of K-14 Initiatives
Rosie Lopez-Malagon
rlopezmalagon@ivytech.edu
219-392-3600, ext. 2312
Executive Director of K-14 Initiatives
Rosie Lopez-Malagon
rlopezmalagon@ivytech.edu
219-392-3600, ext. 2312
Director K-14 Initiatives: Dual Credit & Early College
Dawn BonAmi
dbonami@ivytech.edu
260-480-4294
Director K-14 Engagement and Transition
Kyle Bischoff
kbischoff2@ivytech.edu
260-480-2018
Executive Director of K-14 Initiatives
Rosie Lopez-Malagon
rlopezmalagon@ivytech.edu
219-392-3600, ext. 2312
Monday-Friday | 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. ET
765-719-6029
tkeenan8@ivytech.edu
Ivy Tech Greencastle
915 S Zinc Mill Road
Greencastle, IN 46135
Virtual On-Demand Service:
Video | Voice | Chat
Monday–Friday | 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET
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Director of Admissions, Recruitment and K-14
Abigail Tremain
HamiltonCounty-K14@ivytech.edu
317-921-4300, ext. 084209
Executive Director, K-14 Initiatives
Alonzo Ross
aross130@ivytech.edu
317-921-4622
Director, K-14 Initiatives
Heather Morrison
hmorriso@ivytech.edu
317-921-4800, ext. 084907
Director, Dual Enrollment & Transition
Robyn Williams
rwilliams457@ivytech.edu
317-449-9628
Lake County has 3 full-service locations. Select a location below to see contact information for their High School Programs department.
Executive Director of K-14 Initiatives
Tamera Herschberger
therschberger1@ivytech.edu
765-651-3100, ext. 063418
Please contact High School Programs at our full-service campus located in Valparaiso.
Director Academic Affairs Support & Secondary Initiatives
Melissa Kircher Smith
msmith@ivytech.edu
765-966-2656, ext. 1126
Please contact High School Programs at our full-service campus located in Evansville.
Monday-Friday | 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
812-298-2232
acox87@ivytech.edu
Terre Haute Enrollment Center
8000 S. Campus Drive
Terre Haute, IN 47802
Director of Admission, Recruitment, & K-14
Amanda Cox
acox87@ivytech.edu
812-298-2232
Virtual On-Demand Service:
Video | Voice | Chat
Monday–Friday | 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET
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Please contact High School Programs at our full-service campus located in Fort Wayne.
If you're motivated and want a more robust, personalized academic experience, consider the Honors College at Ivy Tech. Courses are fully virtual and focus on dialogue, reflection, and critical thinking. Graduating with honors can help you stand out as a high-achieving college student, boost your resume, and help you land an acceptance letter to a top four-year college or university.