杏吧传媒

By Brennan LaBrie

More and more high school students are enrolling in college classes. Dual enrollment, also called Dual credit, is the fastest-growing post-secondary pathways in the country, as new research demonstrates its profound impact on student鈥檚 college and career readiness.

Fast Facts:  

• There were dually enrolled students in 2022, up from  
• offer dual enrollment courses. 80% of them on campus and 17% off campus at a local college. 
• of dual enrollment students attend community colleges.
• of community college students are in high school. 

Impact: 

High school students who complete dual enrollment classes :  

• Graduate high school 
• Go to college 
• Obtain a college degree 

These outcomes are constant across student groups, with students of color, low-income students, and those struggling academically all enrolling in college at much higher rates after taking dual enrollment courses.  

The Top Five Benefits of Dual Enrollment

1. College Readiness 

Dual enrollment introduces high school students to not only the rigor of college classes, but also their look, feel and format. This often means fewer hours spent in class, and more hours spent on homework 鈥� prompting students to hone their time management and study skills.  

This exposure eases students’ transition from high school to college, and gives them the confidence to know they can handle the rigor of college. If students struggle in dual enrollment courses at first, that simply means they are getting the bumps out of the way early.  

2. Cost Savings for Students and Families  

Through dual enrollment programs, students can take college classes for free, or at least a fraction of the cost. Each college credit completed in dual enrollment can save families hundreds 鈥� if not thousands 鈥� of dollars in tuition fees. 

Furthermore, dually enrolled students enter college with fewer credits required to graduate 鈥� many even leave high school with an associate鈥檚 degree under their belt. This slashes tuition fees and potential debt incurred in college, and might give those working through school the ability to allot more time to schoolwork. 听

For students from low-income backgrounds, these savings might be the key to them turning their college aspirations into reality.  

3. Jump-Start on College and Career

Dual Enrollment programs let students get a running start on college courses. If they already have a major in mind, they can knock out prerequisites or general education requirements so they can focus on in-major courses at college. This head-start is especially helpful for those pursuing careers that require years of higher education and advanced degrees. 

Students interested in vocational schools or trade certificate programs can begin their journey in high school by gaining practical, hands-on experience in their prospective field. 

For example, Hubbard High School in Chicago Public Schools, an 杏吧传媒partner school, introduced a certificate in advanced manufacturing, allowing students to hit the workforce right out of high school without needing further training.

4. Exposure to Academic Disciplines 

Local community colleges and universities offer students a wide range of courses that might not be available at their high school. This allows students to explore new subjects and career fields, helping them make informed choices about their postsecondary plans while possibly developing a lifelong passion or vocation.

The diverse offering of specialized and career-track classes can also engage students feeling unstimulated by their current classes. 

For example: 

• A student interested in world literature can dive into 20^th Century African American or Rennaissance literature, which might compel them more than AP English Literature.  

• A student passionate about snorkeling might be more engaged by an ecology or marine biology class taught at the local college than AP Bio, and therefore more likely to succeed.  

Dual enrollment also provides compelling subjects and hands-on career and technical education for students disinterested in traditional subjects or not eyeing college.

At Hubbard High School, school leaders opened access to dual enrollment opportunities by removing the test-in requirement for classes like nutrition and world languages, according to Assistant Principal Michael Krzysztofiak.

5. Increased Motivation and Confidence  

鈥淭aking a dual enrollment course builds student confidence,鈥� says Brandon Alfred, EOS鈥� Managing Director of Strategy. 鈥淥ur research shows that just enrolling in and being successful in one dual enrollment course creates this momentum that students then ride into their post-secondary goals, whether it’s community college, university, a trade, or their career.鈥� 

Read Brandon鈥檚 article on how educators can bridge persistent access gaps in dual enrollment  

Robert, the student from Glen Ellyn, enrolled in a speech class through the College of DuPage and came away with a newfound confidence in public speaking. He is excited to bring this skill to Millikin University this fall, where he will study personal training. 

鈥淲hat we see is that when students get a chance, when they get these at-bats to prove to themselves and the rest of the world that they’re college capable, they’re rising to the occasion,鈥� said Steve Sandak, Chief Growth and Data Officer at the . 

Whether it’s building new skills, fulfilling college requirements, or exploring future academic and career paths, dual enrollment helps students envision and embark on听their post-secondary journey in financially responsible way.

Read about how 杏吧传媒helps schools identify and enroll motivated students in advanced pathways like dual enrollment here.