DeVry University and Connections Education Partner to Provide High School Students College Level Courses at No Cost

Passport2College program encourages students to jump-start their college education by enrolling in college courses while still in high school

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., BALTIMORE, Md. (August 18, 2015) — DeVry University and Connections Education today announced a partnership to offer college courses at no cost to high school students attending Pearson Online Academy, an accredited, online private school serving students in grades K-12 worldwide.

Through DeVry University’s Passport2College program, juniors and seniors attending Pearson Online Academy can earn college credit* while still attending high school. Students can enroll in such courses as Computer Applications for Business with Lab, Introduction to Business and Psychology.

“Passport2College is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to learn first-hand the college learning experience,” said Donna Loraine, chief academic officer and provost of DeVry University. “Pearson Online Academy students will be able to participate in the same academic learning environment that all DeVry University undergraduates encounter and obtain knowledge of how they can transition from high school to the collegiate level.”

Hannah Rinehart, director of school for Pearson Online Academy, commented, “More and more students are interested in taking college courses in high school.” In fact, the numbers topped 1.3 million students in the 2010-11 school year according to the most recent survey on the subject by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). “We are excited to bring opportunities like this to our students.”

Passport2College will launch for Pearson Online Academy students in the 2015-2016 school year.

For more information about Passport2College, visit http://www.devry.edu/high-school-students/college-credits.html.

About DeVry University

DeVry University’s mission is to foster student learning through high-quality, career-oriented education integrating technology, business, science and the arts. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. Founded in 1931, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs onsite and online covering 34 different career fields within its five distinguished colleges of study: Business & Management, Engineering & Information Sciences, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Media Arts & Technology. The university is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) http://www.hlcommission.org. It’s highly credentialed faculty members work in the fields that they teach, providing real-world experiences that prepare students for in-demand careers. With locations across the U.S., DeVry University is one of the largest private-sector universities in North America. The university is a part of DeVry Education Group (NYSE: DV), a global provider of educational services.

About Pearson Online Academy

Connections Education is a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual education solutions for students in grades K–12. Since 2001, the company’s Connections Academy has delivered individualized learning to students through tuition-free virtual public schools. In the 2014–2015 school year, Connections Academy supported 29 virtual public schools in 25 states—serving more than 60,000 students. Connections Education offers a fully online private school for students worldwide and delivers blended (combination of online and on-site) learning in select states via tuition-free, public, Nexus Academy schools. The Connections Learning by Pearson division meets the needs of schools, school districts, and other institutions with a full range of digital learning solutions for grades K–12 including: online courses, a program for homebound students, a digital learning platform, and private and public online schools. Connections Education is based in Baltimore, Maryland and was named a 2014 “Top Workplace” by the Baltimore Sun and a 2013 “Best Place to Work” by Baltimore magazine. Connections Education is part of the global learning company Pearson.

* Transfer credit acceptance is at the discretion of the receiving school.