On average, students enroll in six credit hours per year. According to An and Taylor (2019), one or two courses might yield the strongest results. Additional courses do not seem to yield any additional benefits on outcomes, which is why the Credits with Purpose and Career Exploration Pathways initiatives are so important for any credits above six. For fall 2020, 4% of the credit hours were in-person, 39% were online, and 57% were concurrent enrollment (CE).
It is not surprising that credit hours has increased with an increase in headcount. Online and on-campus growth was substantial, with 89% growth in 5 years. CE 5-year growth rate (when including Bridge Year) was 50%. Two limiting factors impact CE capacity: the availability and willingness of university faculty to serve as liaisons, and the availability of high school teachers that meet the credentials required by the academic departments at each university.
Credit Hours of University of Maine System (UMS) Early College Students by Institution, Program, and Academic Year (Summer, Fall, Spring)
