Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment lets high school students enroll in college courses, earning credit that counts toward both high school graduation and a future college transcript. Most dual-enrollment programs partner with local community colleges, though some operate with four-year universities. Courses may be taken on the college campus, online, or at the high school taught by an approved instructor.

Dual enrollment is a strong rigor signal in college admissions, and successful college coursework also demonstrates a student's readiness for college-level work. State-funded programs (Texas, Florida, California, Indiana, and others) make dual enrollment essentially free for participating high schoolers.

For parents, two practical considerations: first, dual-enrollment grades typically appear permanently on the future college transcript, so a poor grade carries weight. Second, the credit-transfer policy varies by college; the receiving college decides whether to accept transfer credit, and selective private universities often do not accept community college credit at all.