What an Associate's Degree Really Means for Your Child's Future
If you're a parent in Jackson, Michigan, researching school options for your middle or high schooler, you've probably heard about "dual enrollment" or "college credit." What you may not know is that one school in Jackson offers something different.
At Jackson Preparatory & Early College (JPEC), students don't just take a college class or two. They graduate with a full associate's degree from Jackson College, tuition-free, before most of their peers pick a major. Earning an associate's degree, a real, transferable credential, comes with specific advantages for your child's future. Let's get into the numbers.
The Savings Are Real and They're Significant for Jackson Families
College affordability is a real concern for families across Jackson County. Jackson Prep is Michigan's only whole-school Early College program with a middle school that covers every credit, every course, and every Jackson College class your child takes at no cost to your family.
For students who take advantage of additional college partnerships, including dual enrollment at Albion College and Adrian College, total tuition savings can reach up to $73,000. Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, JPEC students will also have access to university-level coursework through a new dual enrollment partnership with the University of Michigan-Dearborn, JPEC's first partnership with a Michigan research university, and UM-Dearborn's first Early College partnership. Eligible students can earn credits on an official UM-Dearborn transcript, and JPEC graduates with a 3.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admission to UM-Dearborn.
Here’s what two years of tuition and housing costs at some of Michigan's most popular universities*:
Michigan State University: ~$71,700
Eastern Michigan University: ~$69,500
Western Michigan University: ~$64,000
Grand Valley State University: ~$60,800
Central Michigan University: ~$64,300
*Based on 2024-25 published rates for 2 years of in-state Cost of Attendance (COA)
Two Years Off a Four-Year Degree
When a JPEC student graduates with 60+ college credits in hand, they're not starting over. The Michigan Transfer Agreement is built directly into JPEC's graduation requirements, ensuring credits transfer seamlessly to four-year institutions across the state and beyond. For Jackson-area families trying to set their kids up without the burden of student debt, that means:
Two fewer years of tuition
Two fewer years of room and board
Two fewer years standing between your child and a career, a passion, or whatever comes next
Career Doors That Open Before Graduation
An associate's degree isn't a stepping stone. It's a credential. One that most working adults don't hold.
At JPEC, students pursuing vocational and career paths have another advantage: through the school's partnership with the Jackson Area Career Center, students can earn industry certifications alongside their associate's degree, in fields like:
Automotive Technology
Healthcare
Construction
Culinary Arts
Welding
Engineering & STEM
& much more!
A student who graduates from JPEC with both an associate's degree and a vocational certification enters the workforce with credentials that would typically take someone to be in their mid-20s to accumulate. And with JPEC, they got there for free, while still in their teens, right here in Jackson.
Is JPEC Right for Your Child?
JPEC is a public charter school, open to all families, with no minimum GPA requirement and no tuition at any level. Enrollment is open to students in grades 6-12, and the school draws from 21 school districts across the region.
Families who find JPEC early are the ones who never look back. To schedule a campus tour or learn more about enrollment, visit jacksonpec.org, call (517) 705-5732, or email [email protected]. JPEC is located at 2111 Emmons Road in Jackson, right on the campus of Jackson College.
About Jackson Preparatory & Early College (JPEC)
As a public school academy for middle and high school students Jackson Preparatory & Early College (JPEC), Michigan’s only whole school Early College program with a middle school, offers 6th – 13th graders the opportunity to foster independence safely. Founded more than a decade ago and housed at Jackson College, JPEC offers access to world-class facilities which enables us to provide an excellent tuition-free education that includes credit-earning college courses and career-defining certifications. We value competency-based learning -- what you know how to do, not just what you know. Achieve an associate’s degree and a high school diploma simultaneously. Every student can succeed here. Enroll now. Find us at jacksonpec.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
