WOSC Concurrent Enrollment Jumps 25.5% as More Lawton-Area Students Earn Free College Credit

Western Oklahoma State College is seeing more high schoolers than ever walk into college classrooms before they graduate. The college reported a 25.5% increase in concurrent credit hours for Fall 2026 compared with Fall 2025, and total concurrent enrollment rose by 58 students, a 15.6% gain. President Chad Wiginton credited area high school students, local school districts, and families for the growth, saying it reflects expanding opportunities for juniors and seniors to earn college credit while finishing high school.

The numbers matter because the money does. Oklahoma invests more than $20 million in concurrent enrollment, funding tuition waivers that let eligible high school seniors take up to 18 tuition-free credit hours, with juniors eligible for up to 9. For families around Lawton and across southwest Oklahoma, that can translate into thousands of dollars saved before a student ever sets foot on a college campus full time. WOSC, Oklahoma’s oldest original municipal two-year college, says the program also strengthens its partnerships with regional school districts and broadens access to higher education.

Wiginton added the college aims to be a good steward of those taxpayer dollars by providing a smooth transition from high school to college. For parents with a junior or senior in the house, the practical next step is simple: reach out to your school counselor and ask what concurrent enrollment options are available through WOSC. Is your family taking advantage of tuition-free dual credit, or is this the first you’re hearing about it?