Get Ahead on College – Without Giving Up High School
More and more, Anchorage families are looking for ways to give their student a head start on college. One popular option is the Alaska Middle College School (AMCS), a program run by the Anchorage School District in partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage. It’s a strong program for the right student, and we’re glad Alaska families have it as an option – but it does come with real trade-offs that many families don’t fully weigh until their student is already there.
At Lumen Christi, we built a different path: real, transferable college credit earned right here on campus, through partnerships with two universities:
- St. Francis University Located in Loretto, Pennsylvania, Saint Francis is a private Catholic university founded in 1847 in the Franciscan tradition. Serving approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students, Saint Francis is recognized by U.S. News & World Report among the Best Regional Universities in the North and by Niche as one of the top Catholic colleges in the country. The school offers a well-rounded array of degree programs paired with undergraduate research opportunities, and holds particular strength in its health sciences offerings and degrees. Though our PEACE (Partnership for Excellence in the Advancement of Catholic Education) agreement, Lumen Christi students earn university credit for Lumen Christi classes in classrooms that your student already knows, with the teachers and classmates who already know them.
- University of Alaska Fairbanks The Flagship campus of the University of Alaska system, UAF offers a well-rounded array of degree programs across colleges with particular strength in Arctic and climate-related research, and renowned programs in geophysics, environmental science, atmospheric sciences, and Indigenous studies. Through our partnership with the UAF Advantage program, Lumen Christi students take online UAF college courses but do so during the course of their day on campus with us.
How the Options Compare
Alaska Middle College School (AMCS)
- Students leave their home high school and enroll at AMCS, attending classes on the UAA campus alongside college students and adult learners;
- College courses are taught by UAA faculty and staff, not high school teachers;
- Coursework, pacing, and independence expectations shift to a college (students aged 18-22+) model, for students who are still only 16 or 17;
- Students step away from their high school’s clubs, sports, spirit days, and day-to-day peer community during the years they’re enrolled;
- There can be less flexibility in AMCS scheduling which could conflict with afternoon activities typically scheduled after a traditional high school day ends. This means students may have to choose between classes and participating in sports and other activities;
- College course grades depend heavily on a few exams and projects, there are fewer daily assignments to cushion a bad grade which impacts both high school and college transcripts permanently.
Lumen Christi’s St. Francis University Dual Credit Program
- Students stay on the Lumen Christi campus, in Lumen Christi classrooms, taught by Lumen Christi faculty they already trust;
- Credits currently offered in British Literature, Theology 12, and International Affairs – with more courses in development;
- Credit is real college credit, transferable to St. Francis University and accepted at many other colleges and universities;
- Students remain fully part of the Lumen Christi community: sports, clubs, retreats, Yearbook, and graduating with the class they’ve grown up with;
- Students get college – level rigor with the mentorship, structure, and support of a high school environment.
Lumen Christi’s UAF Advantage Program
- Students can also take additional online college courses through the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Advantage program – right from the Lumen Christi campus;
- Lumen Christi students receive an approximate 40% discount on the tuition paid to UAA ($165/credit hour vs. $310/credit hour, as of 8/26). 529 plans can be used;
- Courses are completed during dedicated study hall periods built into the school day, not on a student’s own time at home;
- Because it’s during the school day, students still have Lumen Christi faculty nearby if they need help working through the material;
- This gives families another way to stack up college credit – Advantage courses alongside our St. Francis courses – without ever leaving the Lumen Christi campus or community.
Why It Matters
College credit is valuable. But the high school years matter too – socially, spiritually, and developmentally. Our dual credit model was built on the simple idea that students shouldn’t have to choose between getting ahead academically and having the full high school experience that shapes who they become.
At Lumen Christi, they don’t have to choose. They get both.
The Bottom Line
If your student is looking to get a head start on college, we’d love to show you what that looks like at Lumen Christi – real college credit, real rigor, and a high school experience that’s still fully theirs.
Schedule a visit or reach out to our Academics team to learn more about our growing dual credit course offerings.
