Chicago Public Schools Graduates Save $10 Million-Plus in College Tuition Through Early College Credits

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CHICAGO - Chicago Public Schools (CPS) continues accelerating college access and affordability for students. Hundreds of graduating seniors will leave CPS with a significant advantage in higher education. Since 2023, the number of seniors graduating with more than 15 college credits has increased by more than 85 percent.

More than 250 seniors across the District will graduate with both a high school diploma and an associate degree, and thousands more will leave high school with substantial college credit, saving families thousands of dollars and shortening the path to a college degree.

CLASS OF 2026
252 Associate Degrees Earned
1,156 earned 15+ college credits
326 earned 30+ college credits
6,700+ CPS '26 students earned 66K+ early college credits
Saving families ~$10.4M in tuition

"The District continues to ensure students receive a high-quality education while preparing them for the future," said Superintendent/CEO Dr. Macquline King. "Students pursuing higher education can move forward with confidence, knowing they are ready and capable of succeeding."

These milestones underscore the District's ongoing commitment to broadening access to rigorous, college-level coursework and ensuring that every student graduates ready for college, career, and life.

"These exemplary CPS students are not only completing high school; they are making significant strides toward their college and career aspirations," said Chief Education Officer Dr. Karime Asaf. "Their accomplishments reflect the academic excellence and determination that we strive to nurture every day."

Class of 2026 AchievementsThe Class of 2026 set new records across all early college milestones:
326 seniors earned 30 credits or more, equivalent to one full year of college.
252 seniors earned an associate degree while still in high school, a 19.4 percent increase from 2025.
1,156 seniors earned 15 or more college credits, the equivalent of one college semester, which represents a 14.8 percent increase from 2025.
87 schools earned milestone recognition for early college achievement, an 8.7 percent increase from 2025.

The Chicago Roadmap
These outcomes have been nurtured through a variety of higher education partnerships, most significantly under the Chicago Roadmap, a strategic collaboration established in 2020 between CPS and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to enhance access to rigorous college-level coursework at no cost to high school students. The initiative offers:
Dual credit college-level courses delivered by qualified CPS teachers in high schools.
Dual enrollment courses taught by CCC faculty on college campuses or online
High-quality advising, career exploration, and transition supports.

"Through Early College and the Chicago Roadmap, we are preparing students today for their future by offering no-cost college courses that help them save time and money on their path to a degree," said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. "In partnership with CPS and our communities, we are creating a clear path for them to achieve in higher education. This program shows that where there is opportunity, our students thrive."

Since its initial inception with the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), CPS students have earned credits through partnerships that have expanded to various institutions, including Chicago State University, Columbia College Chicago, DeVry University, Dominican University, Illinois Tech, Loyola University, the National Education Opportunity Network, National Louis University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Chicago.

These new partnerships continue to change the trajectory of students' lives. This year, 10 seniors at Farragut Career Academy have benefited from a new partnership with Dominican University, earning more than 15 college credits.
The latest initiative, Roadmap 2.0, is a collaboration between CPS, CCC, and UIC aimed at creating seamless transitions for students with zero credit loss, ultimately accelerating college completion.

Student Spotlight
Rigoberto De La Torre Fonseca, a senior at Eric Solorio Academy in the Gage Park neighborhood, has made history as the first student at Solorio to earn an associate degree in engineering science in mechanical engineering through Richard J. Daley College. The Gage Park native also achieved a perfect ACT score, the first in Solorio's history, and gained admission to both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University. Rigoberto aims to pursue an engineering degree and will be attending MIT.

"Thanks to the early college pathway, I took several engineering-focused courses," said De La Torre Fonseca. "Those classes taught me the importance of time management and also clarified the passion I have for engineering and that I should pursue it as a career."