California community colleges guide · By CalChannel Editorial Team · Updated September 29, 2026
Dual enrollment lets high school students take real college courses, usually through a local community college, and earn college credit while still in high school. In California, most dual enrollment runs through the state’s community colleges, often through College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnerships with school districts, and classes may meet at the high school, on the college campus or online. Students generally apply through CCCApply and need a parent or guardian consent form.
Dual enrollment is different from AP or IB. Instead of taking a high school class and an exam at the end, you take an actual college course and receive a college grade on a college transcript.
This guide explains how dual enrollment works in California, how to sign up, what it costs and how the credits transfer.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who offers it | California community colleges, often with local school districts |
| Main program types | CCAP partnerships (classes often at the high school) and individual “special admit” enrollment at the college |
| How to apply | CCCApply application, plus the college’s dual enrollment and parent/guardian consent forms |
| Where classes meet | At the high school, on the college campus or online |
| Credit | College credit on a community college transcript; many courses also count toward the high school diploma |
| Cost | Enrollment fees are often waived for dual enrollment students; ask your college about books and other costs |
Sources: Mt. San Antonio College, Dual Enrollment; ASSIST. Full list at the end of the article.
In This Article
What Is Dual Enrollment?
Dual enrollment means being enrolled in two places at once: your high school and a college. You take a college course taught to college standards, and the grade goes on an official college transcript. Many high schools also award high school credit for the same course.
Compared with AP and IB, the main difference is how credit is earned. AP and IB credit depends on an exam score and each college’s policy. Dual enrollment credit comes from passing the college course itself.
How Dual Enrollment Works in California
In California, dual enrollment is mostly offered by community colleges. Many run College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnerships with local school districts, where college classes are taught at the high school, sometimes during the regular school day. Students can also enroll individually at a community college as “special admit” high school students and take classes on campus or online.
Mt. San Antonio College, for example, says its dual enrollment program lets high school students take college courses at their high school campus, earn college credit, rent textbooks and use Mt. SAC’s student resources and services.
How to Sign Up
Steps vary by college, but Mt. SAC’s process is typical:
- Talk with your high school counselor about which courses count for your diploma and your college plans
- Apply to the community college through CCCApply; at Mt. SAC, dual enrollment students apply each term
- Claim your college student account
- Submit the college’s dual enrollment parent/guardian consent form and any school release form
- Register for the approved course, and request accommodations through the college’s disability services office if you have an IEP or 504 plan
Our take: Dual enrollment grades are permanent college grades. A strong start can shorten your degree and help your applications, but a poor grade stays on your college transcript, so choose courses you’re ready for.
Does Dual Enrollment Credit Transfer?
Community college courses that are listed as transferable generally transfer to UC and CSU campuses, and many count toward general education requirements. How a course counts toward a specific major depends on the university. Use ASSIST.org, California’s official course-transfer tool, and your counselor to check before you enroll. Private and out-of-state colleges set their own transfer credit policies.
Benefits and Drawbacks
- Lower cost: dual enrollment classes are often free or low cost, while the same units later cost more at a university
- Head start: credits can shorten your time to a degree or make room for a double major
- College experience: you learn college expectations before you arrive
- Permanent record: grades appear on your college transcript and can affect later GPA calculations and financial aid progress
- Workload: college classes move faster and expect more independent work
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dual enrollment free in California?
Enrollment fees are often waived for dual enrollment students, especially in CCAP partnerships, but rules and extra costs such as books vary by college. Ask your community college’s dual enrollment office.
What grade can you start dual enrollment?
It depends on the college and program. Many programs serve 9th through 12th graders, while some courses have age, grade or prerequisite requirements.
Is dual enrollment better than AP?
Neither is always better. Dual enrollment gives college credit for passing the course, while AP credit depends on your exam score and each college’s policy. Many students take both.
Will dual enrollment credits transfer to a UC or CSU?
Transferable community college courses generally do. Check ASSIST.org and your counselor to see how a course counts for your intended major.
Do I apply to the community college to take dual enrollment classes?
Yes. You usually submit a CCCApply application plus the college’s dual enrollment and parent consent forms.
The Bottom Line on Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment lets California high school students earn real college credit, usually through a community college, often at little or no cost. Talk to your counselor, apply through CCCApply, choose transferable courses and take them seriously, since the grades are permanent. It can lower the total cost of college and give you a head start on a degree. For the bigger picture, see California education policy.
Sources
CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides
The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.
