Dual Enrollment

What Is Dual Enrollment? Credits, Rules & FAQs

What is dual enrollment? Learn how credits work, who qualifies, course options, key rules, and where to confirm local details before you apply.

What is dual enrollment refers to a program that enables students to enroll in college courses while they are still enrolled in high school, typically receiving credit from both institutions for the same course. The goal is to allow students to sample college-level work, shorten the amount of time it takes to complete a college degree, or sample a potential career track. However, rules vary. Each school district, college partner, and state department of education has its own eligibility, tuition, transcript, and transfer policies, so make sure you have the most up-to-date information before you sign up for courses.

In This Article

What Is Dual Enrollment In High School And College Credit Terms

A dual enrollment program allows a high school student to enroll in college courses prior to graduating from high school. When the class is approved, the student will earn both high school credit (and potentially meet a graduation requirement) as well as college credit on a college transcript. For example, a student could take an English composition course in high school that would count toward high school English credit as well as a freshman composition requirement at a local community college.

The terminology may be different, depending on which state or college system you’re talking to. Some may talk about earning dual credits, while others may describe the fact that you’re taking classes in both high school and college simultaneously. How does all of this translate to you? What matters most is how your transcripts look, what level of course you took, and if your college of choice accepts the credit.

What Is Dual Enrollment In High School And College Credit Terms

How Does Dual Enrollment Work For Students

At the point of enrollment dual enrollment high school , your school counselor verifies the match before the college registers you.

  1. Check eligibility criteria. Your school determines whether you meet the grade level, GPA, prerequisite, and/or readiness test requirements to enroll. 2. Obtain school approval. A school counselor or other school official approves the course based on your schedule and/or graduation requirements. 3. Enroll with the community college or other partner college. Staff at the community college or other partner college can open your student account, assign an ID, and enroll you in the approved course. 4. Decide on the delivery method. The class could be online, at the community college or another partner college, or at your school with a teacher who is authorized by the partner college. 5. Complete the class according to college standards. Your grade could appear on both your high school transcript and the college transcript, which means you need to keep track of your withdrawal deadlines and schedule.

Choosing Classes And Course Formats

You might take online, college-based, and high school-based classes that all have college-level standards. An online class might be flexible, but you will need to manage your time well. A college-based class might feel like a more traditional college experience and may have students from different grade levels. A high school-based class might feel familiar, but it should follow the college syllabus and grading standards. However, note that the label dual credit does not mean that every college or university will evaluate the class the same way.

Credits, Grades, And Transcripts

A completed dual credit courses might be listed on more than one transcript. Your high school may count it toward your graduation requirements, and the college will keep a transcript that other schools might request. This is important to know when you receive a poor grade, fail to withdraw in time, or take too many classes. What appears to be a reasonable amount of work compared to regular classes can be overwhelming during sporting events, family events, or final exams. Find out how the grade is reported before the semester begins, not after the grades are posted.

Options For Public High School Students

How you gain access to public high school options depends on a memorandum of understanding between the district and the college. This MOU outlines what classes are approved, what teacher credentials are required, which students qualify, what restrictions there are around the calendar, and who covers which costs. Most commonly, juniors and seniors have easy access but some programs will also allow underclassmen who demonstrate readiness.

If you have a plan in place, you can start taking classes in your junior year and potentially accelerate your progress by up to two years over your peers. You should not make that your goal, but instead look to take as many dual enrollment courses as you can without detracting from your core graduation plan and postsecondary plans.

Dual Enrollment Eligibility For Public School Students

There are generally multiple steps to complete before you can enroll in classes at a college. Here are some common requirements:

  • GPA threshold: The district or college might require a minimum GPA or subject-specific grades.
  • Proof of readiness: There could be placement exams, a record of previous coursework, or ACT results.
  • Grade level restrictions: Some programs only allow juniors and seniors, but others have additional requirements for younger students.
  • Parental consent: Because these classes will appear on a college transcript, most schools require permission from parents/guardians.
  • School approval: Your high school will need to approve the class and verify it will fit within your schedule and graduation plan.

Options For Private And Non-Public School Students

The process for private and non-public school students may also be different. It may require you to take additional steps to get permission for college access. You may have to provide documentation to the college you wish to attend. For example, your school may need to send records confirming your grade level, your academic standing, and that you are allowed to attend classes. The college may also require placement test results, copies of your transcripts, or a document signed by someone at your school confirming that you are allowed to take college classes.

The costs of college access also vary. Tuition, fees, books, and transportation rules may depend on where you live, what kind of school you attend, and which college you want to take classes at. If you are in a private school, you may be qualified to take a class but be expected to pay for it, while a student at a public school may not have to pay for the same college credit.

Available College Courses Students Can Take

Typically, these classes fall into two main buckets: general education and career-focused classes. General education classes could include writing, math, science, social science, humanities, or communication. Career and technical education classes could relate to health care, information technology, business, manufacturing, public safety, or more.

It’s important to remember that not all college classes will qualify. Some types of classes (remedial, developmental, recreational, non-credit) aren’t accepted because they don’t align with the goal of early college. It’s important to choose a class with a clear purpose. For some students, that might be taking calculus before declaring a major in engineering. For others, that might be taking a welding, accounting, or health sciences class to align with a career pathway for an industry credential.

Course Fit: Transfer, Degree, And Graduation Requirements

The easiest way to pick the right class is to find one that serves two purposes. It should be beneficial to you both as a high school student and as someone who is planning for your future education. If you’re interested in completing an associate degree, ask if the class is transferable to that program or if it’s just an elective. If you’re planning to go to a four-year college, you should find out the policy of the college you want to attend before the course is accepted as transfer credit. That’s where a lot of people go wrong. A class can be legitimate, graded, and put on the transcript, but it still doesn’t count toward a major requirement down the road.

Rules, Partnerships, And Who Oversees The Program

In most cases, there are three levels of oversight: the state, the school system, and the college. A state board of education or a state education department develops the overall policy. Then local school districts and colleges negotiate their own agreements regarding approved courses, who is eligible to participate, teacher qualifications, calendars, and who is responsible for issuing final grades. The college retains responsibility for college-level quality control.

These agencies illustrate how much the landscape can vary from one state to another. The Florida Department of Education’s guidance is linked to the Florida College System, while the Florida State Board of Education is responsible for setting the overall state policy. The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Kansas Board of Regents, and the Arizona Department of Education all operate within their respective states. Because this information changes over time, please verify the current policy if you are using a document that is not up-to-date.

Where To Get Local Program Details

Begin at your high school’s counseling office to verify what classes fulfill high school graduation requirements and what documents you need to submit. Visit the college department handling early college enrollment to verify the deadlines, the steps to get placed, whether the courses will be delivered in person or online, and whether there are any costs for textbooks or materials.

Your state’s department of education website can help you understand the rules of the program, but it can’t tell you everything. The catch is that just because a state has authorized a program, doesn’t mean your school offers every course or every delivery method. If you need a certain course to complete your plan, ask for the list of courses offered this year, not last year.

College And State Contact Information To Check

You can ask the admissions office how to register as a high school student, or speak with a contact at the college to verify that you’re following the right steps to sign up and what paperwork needs to be filled out. You can also get more information on your transcripts by contacting the College’s registrar and asking what the transcript will look like when you withdraw from the course or when you’ve completed the course. If you’re trying to decide among multiple schools, make sure you ask them all the same question about your transcript, so you can see how they differ.

At the state level, there is a department that deals with colleges and universities, as well as another department that deals with high schools and secondary education. Also, there is a department that handles dual enrollment and other acceleration programs. For instance, the Florida College System department may have different information than the individual campus departments. This may seem trivial, but keep in mind that the person who grants you registration may not be the person who determines how you’ll be treated when you transfer courses.

Comparison Criteria And Decision Factors

To see how this compares to Advanced Placement, compare credit-granting mechanisms. With AP, you typically get credit based on test scores and the policies of each college. With college courses, you generally earn credit by completing the course through the school, but the credit you receive depends on which college you transfer to.

Here is a useful checklist to consider before enrolling:

  • Course rigor: Can you complete college-level work while managing the workload of regular high-school courses?
  • Credit value: Will the course satisfy a college admission, graduation, major, or career requirement?
  • Transferability: Will your prospective colleges recognize the credit, and as what kind of credit?
  • Time investment: Could the class compete with employment, extracurriculars, commuting time, or home obligations?
  • College transcript implications: Are you okay with the grade appearing on a college transcript?

Key takeaways

  • With Dual enrollment, high school students can take college courses before graduation.
  • Students can earn both high school and college credit from the same class.
  • Many schools have eligibility requirements, including GPA, readiness scores, grade level, and counselor approval.
  • Dual-enrollment course availability may differ by state, school district, college partner, and in-person or online options.
  • Students should verify whether the classes will transfer before enrolling.

Frequently asked questions

What is the point of dual enrollment?

This allows a student to attempt college coursework early, earn college transcripted credit upon successfully completing the course, and consider college major, major pathway, or time to completion decisions prior to graduation. It may save time down the road if the credits are applied. It might also help determine if a course is a good fit.

Is dual enrollment harder than AP?

It can be more difficult, less difficult, or completely different from AP. The difficulty level varies by teacher, course content, rubrics/grading standards, and workload. Some AP courses use a standardized exam to determine eligibility for credit. College courses typically require completion of the semester to qualify for credit and follow the partner college’s syllabus, due dates, and grading standards.

What are the downsides of dual enrollment?

Some potential drawbacks include transcript blemishes, inconsistent college transfer rules, time commitments, and cost. If a course isn’t relevant to your intended major or doesn’t fulfill requirements for your intended degree, the class won’t be helpful. The grade earned will remain on your college transcript. The course may also conflict with your other scheduled classes since the due dates may not align with your high school calendar.

What is dual enrollment in the US?

What is What is dual enrollment in the United States? Dual enrollment is an educational arrangement administered by states and colleges in which students enrolled in secondary schools can enroll in postsecondary courses prior to their graduation from secondary school. Policies are established by educational governing bodies, schools, and colleges. Rules and procedures differ widely by location and program type. Contact your current state, school district, and/or college regarding registration for dual enrollment.

Do dual enrollment credits transfer to every college?

Credits do not transfer automatically to all colleges and universities because each institution determines its own transfer policies and how courses, grades, subject match, and accreditation will be considered for the transfer student’s intended degree program. Contact all colleges you plan to attend and inquire about how dual enrollment will be reviewed for transfer. Ask which dual enrollment classes are acceptable: major credit, general education credit, elective credit, or not applicable toward a degree.

Conclusion

So, if you asked us about what is dual enrollment , we would say this: it can be a good way to sample what it’s like to take college classes, and get a head start on earning college credit. But the specifics, namely eligibility, available classes, cost, grading policies, and transferability, are determined by the school, college, and state involved. Make sure to consult with the appropriate school staff member, ensure that the courses you’re taking fulfill your high school graduation requirements, and ask the college whether those credits will show up on your college transcript. It may not always be the most difficult or challenging class that is the best option for you, but it’s the class that will help you succeed in high school and set you on track for your own college or career goals.

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