Frisco ISD and Collin College Launch Collin EDGE Dual Credit Program

Frisco ISD announced on December 3 that it will partner with Collin College to offer the Collin EDGE Dual Credit Program to high school students beginning in the 2026 to 2027 school year. EDGE stands for Experiential, Dual Credit, Growth and Exploration, and the pathway will allow students to complete four semesters of college work that satisfy the full 44 hour Texas Core Curriculum while they remain enrolled in high school.

Classes will be held on Collin College's Frisco campus in two daily blocks, from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Tuition is listed at 67 dollars per credit hour, and students who qualify for free or reduced price lunch will be eligible for free tuition. The program replaces the four semester UNT North Texas Now option for new enrollees, while students already enrolled in the UNT pathway may complete that option.

District officials emphasized potential cost savings for families and described the program as experiential and project based. For local residents the most immediate effects are financial and academic. Students who accumulate up to 44 hours of core credits in high school can shorten time to a college degree, lower future tuition bills, and enter the workforce or transfer to four year institutions sooner. For families in Collin County those savings can be significant given rising higher education costs.

At the same time administrators and community advocates will need to address practical barriers to equitable participation. Families are required to provide transportation to the Collin College Frisco campus, a responsibility that can pose challenges for households without reliable vehicles or flexible schedules. The program schedule may also conflict with student work obligations or family caregiving duties, and district and college leaders will need to consider supports for students with disabilities and those who face other access barriers.

Applications are open through February 12 for the initial cohort. As Frisco and Collin County education leaders implement the EDGE pathway, its success will hinge on outreach and supports that ensure low income and rural students can take advantage of the opportunity to save money, gain college experience, and build a more equitable pipeline through higher education.