Later this month, Redmond resident Elaine Melnik will graduate from Central Washington University’s (CWU) Bachelor of Applied Science Information Technology and Administrative Management (BAS-ITAM) program at the age 20, just two years after graduating from high school.

Melnik began her college education while still in high school. She enrolled in Lake Washington Institute of Technology’s (LWIT) Lake Washington Technical Academy, a public high school program that places high school juniors and seniors in college-level courses at no cost to the student — books are even provided at no charge.

Melnik graduated with both her high school diploma and a computer security and network technician associate’s degree from LWIT in Kirkland and found work right away in a rough economy. She then transferred to CWU’s online ITAM program, which allowed her to keep her job and go to school the past two years.

“The benefits of getting my two-year degree while still in high school were amazing,” Melnik said in a LWIT press release. “By graduation I was closer to my ideal job than most high school graduates, but knew I needed more. The minimum in my field is a four-year degree. The online degree at CWU saved me time and money, allowing me to keep with my current job. Now I’ve gained the valuable skills and experience — leadership skills, management course and valuable (information technology) classes — to take my career to the next level.”

Melnik’s experience isn’t unique. Every year more than 100 high school students graduate from the Lake Washington Technical Academy, many with two-year degrees and plans to continue their education.

“The beauty of the academy is that it creates another option for students who attend one of our 30 partner school districts,” said principal Kim Infinger in the LWIT release. “We have students from all walks of life, whether they weren’t interested in the traditional high school, or needed a more hands-on technical education to spark their desire to learn, or just saw the opportunity to get a jump start on college and save money. In some cases, our students are getting a college education they’d otherwise never be able to achieve be it due to finances, family situations, or lack of desire. I’ve seen the lightbulb turn on for so many students. It is rewarding to watch them achieve when they didn’t themselves believe it possible.”

With the price of a traditional four-year education on the rise and more non-traditional students headed to college, Washington students need to think outside the box to reach their educational goals. Many like Melnik are turning to LWIT and other community and technical colleges in the state, which offer multiple transfer degrees.

Melnik paid less than a quarter of what it would have cost to attend a four-year university for her entire education. By receiving her two-year degree while still in high school, which comes at no cost due to state law, she saved at least $12,000 in LWIT tuition and books. CWU estimates annual tuition, fees, and books at about $9,000 a year — add room and board and the estimated cost is $20,000 per year. In the end, Melnik received a four-year bachelor’s degree for less than $20,000, the cost of one year at the CWU main campus.

LWIT offers several transfer-ready degrees complete with transfer agreements with several Washington schools to assist graduates in a seamless continuation of their education. However, CWU takes it one step further accepting any two-year degree in its entirety as long as it includes 40 credits in an applied area.

“State stats showed in 2010 more than 191,000 students in Washington were enrolled in two-year applied programs that have no pathway to a four-year university,” CWU BAS-ITAM Director Laurie Stehle said in the release. “CWU is the only university in the state that will accept any applied/technical degree program (up to 105 credits) toward our Bachelor of Applied Science degree. What’s more, we’ve also found students prefer the flexibility of online classes. They fill first, even by our students living here on campus. For non-traditional students with jobs, family, or limited resources, online courses are the viable option. By offering degrees online, CWU offers students around the state opportunities to achieve their educational goals.”

For more information about LWIT’s degrees and the Lake Washington Technical Academy, visit www.lwtech.edu. For information on CWU’s programs visit www.cwu.edu.