Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is proud to announce a partnership with Ocean Springs High School (OSHS) to provide the Collegiate Academy program to Ocean Springs students. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, OSHS will offer this innovative program, which gives high school students the opportunity to earn their associate’s degree while completing their high school diploma.

“At MGCCC, we are dedicated to creating educational opportunities that empower students from all backgrounds,” said Dr. Cedric Bradley, Vice President of MGCCC’s Jackson County Campus. “Our collaboration with Ocean Springs High School to launch the Collegiate Academy program underscores our commitment to early college success. We look forward to helping these young learners achieve academic excellence and become tomorrow’s innovators and leaders.”

The Collegiate Academy program provides high-achieving high school students with a unique opportunity to accelerate their education by earning both college credits and an associate’s degree while completing their high school diploma. This rigorous program combines dual credit classes taught at the high school with on-campus and online coursework at MGCCC, giving students valuable academic experience and a competitive advantage for their future. With special admission requirements in place, the program ensures that participants are well-prepared to excel in this challenging and rewarding academic environment. 

By expanding its Collegiate Academy partnership to include OSHS, MGCCC continues its commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators. This collaboration opens new pathways for students to access higher education and prepares them for future academic and career success. MGCCC is excited to be at the forefront of this initiative, helping to create a seamless transition from high school to college.

“MGCCC has been a great partner of ours for many years, offering our students various opportunities to earn college credits and scholarships,” said Dr. Jacob Dykes, Principal of Ocean Springs High School. “We are excited to expand on this wonderful partnership through the Collegiate Academy program! Our goal is to ensure every student graduating from OSHS is college and/or career ready, and this partnership adds another opportunity for us to ensure this goal is met.”