Dual enrollment programs, much like many other sectors of education, are growing exponentially with nearly 2.5 million high schoolers having taken a course in the 2022-2023 academic year.[1] As the price of higher education increases, for many students they are a way to reduce the cost of getting a four-year degree by earning credits while still in high school. But how do these work, and how exactly do they help the average student?

What is dual enrollment?

Dual enrollment “styles” vary from state to state, but in essence they refer to programs where high school students can take college courses and count them towards their future degree—so students have a permanent college record before beginning university in earnest. These courses are typically in addition to a typical high school course load. Some programs allow students to “double dip” and are called dual credit as students have these courses fulfill both high school and college credits at once.[2] Some are also taught by college professors, either in person on a campus or online, while others may be taught by certified or trained K-12 instructors with the help of the higher education institution. 

How does dual enrollment positively impact students?

There are several ways in which dual enrollment can positively impact high school students. First and foremost, credits earned through dual enrollment can oftentimes reduce how much is spent on tuition for a degree. Ideally, the high-quality credits taken in these programs should transfer to whatever four-year institution you enroll in and shave off between one to four semesters of courses. In other words, many can graduate from high school having already completed an associate’s degree or having completed a significant amount of work towards their undergraduate degree. Dual enrollment courses are often cheaper or altogether free compared to a traditional college semester, thus students who successfully complete the credits and transfer them save years of tuition and can even graduate debt free.[2] Educators often see dual enrollment programs as a good equity strategy, and it has proven itself to be beneficial to low-income students.[1]

Additionally, some research has shown that dual enrollment correlates with “higher rates of college enrollment, persistence, and completion and with earning higher wages after high school.”[1] Students who participate are more likely to attend college and graduate. 

There are some other less tangible benefits in undertaking dual enrollment. Students can develop college habits early on, like practicing self-advocacy, making time for office hours, polishing study habits, and more.[3] It can also boost their confidence as it can be a good new challenge and a way to explore topics that aren’t typically covered in high school. Lastly, it can look just as good as AP, IB and many other programs on college applications as it demonstrates management and completion of higher education work.[4]

Challenges

There are a few challenges both with accessing these programs and in getting the full extent of the advertised benefits. In terms of availability, racial minorities are “consistently underrepresented” in dual enrollment programs.[1] Schools that serve low-income students of color often do not have the resources to establish these types of connections with higher education institutions, and if they do, the ability for students to enroll and reap the benefits in these is impacted by insufficient funding and proper accreditation.[1] Transportation, high school schedules, and other financial barriers can also dissuade students from getting a “head start” on their college journey.[2] Another barrier is that oftentimes schools do not advertise dual enrollment as much as other programs like IB or AP because they are not as exclusionary and therefore can be perceived as being lower in quality. In some cases, this is true, and the courses taught at a supposed college level aren’t as rigorous as Advanced Placement courses and other academic programs.[5] Quality issues often come back to being underfunded, lack of standards and regulation by the state, and other hardships in education such as a shortage of qualified teachers.[1]

Students may not be ready to undertake a college level course in addition to their high school schedule, which can hurt not only their permanent record but also decrease their productivity in their high school courses.[4]

Due to concerns over quality, those who end up enrolling in a dual enrollment program and attempt to transfer their credits upon enrollment in universities often lose about 13% of their credits, and only roughly 73% of these count towards their area of study.[5] But this is only in the case of public universities. For private institutions, there is no contractual compliance over accepting credit transfers.[5] 

Finally, in some cases where there is little to no coverage of funding by the program, and students are forced to rely on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to afford taking college credits, their pell grants could be used up by the time they need full-time financial aid in a four-year institution.[5]

Despite these challenges, many states and institutions are ensuring that there are clear lines between state schools and high schools.[5] Some have come up with specific course programs that dissuade “double dipping” so that the credits can stand on their own and be a more accurate representation of early college achievement. Others require college faculty only and accreditation for quality to remain consistent.

PSG

Publishing Solutions Group is devoted to advancing educational development, and as dual enrollment programs continue to improve their quality and meet increasing standards, it’s essential that we remain informed. By highlighting the advantages and addressing the challenges of this educational program, we can ensure our content development truly supports educators and fosters student success.

[1] https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/edcentral/unpacking-dual-enrollment-benefits-barriers-and-opportunities-for-expansion/

[2] https://www.act.org/content/act/en/students-and-parents/high-school-success/high-school-resources/dual-enrollment-faqs.html

[3] https://research.com/education/ap-vs-dual-enrollment

[4] https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/pros-and-cons-of-dual-enrollment

[5] https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/are-dual-enrollment-programs-overpromising/2016/09

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