Norman Public Schools will offer an associate degree program for high school students through a partnership with Tulsa Community College next academic year.
NPS announced the associate degree initiative at the Norman Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Schools event. Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, NPS high school students will be able to enroll in Tulsa Community College’s virtual associate degree program.
The total cost of the associate degree program will be approximately $5,500 per student. The program employs a mostly open-source curriculum, so there will be little to no cost for books according to a press release from NPS. The district wrote that it is working on partnerships to provide scholarship opportunities to students.
In the press release, Justin Milner, NPS associate superintendent and chief operating officer, reflected on his experiences as a first-generation college student, writing that he understands the barriers students face when pursuing higher education. He wrote that the virtual format of the degree program removes barriers, such as transportation.
“Studies show that for students who earn an associate degree, the potential to finish a four-year degree goes up exponentially, and we are looking forward to providing this option for our students,” Milner wrote.
NPS will continue to partner with OU and Oklahoma City Community College to provide concurrent enrollment opportunities for high school students, according to the release.
“In Norman Public Schools, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to best serve our students and prepare them for life after graduation,” Superintendent Nick Migliorino wrote in the press release. “I am so incredibly excited about this program and cannot wait to see our first group of students walk across the stage in May 2026 to receive both their high school diploma and associate degree.”
This article was edited by Alexia Aston and Peggy Dodd. Cooper Marshall and Nikkie Aisha copy edited this story.
