Dual enrollment lets a high school student take a real college course, often at a local community college or taught at the high school, and earn both high school and college credit. It can save time and show readiness for college work. But the grade starts a permanent college transcript, and whether credits transfer depends on the college. Eligibility, cost and rules vary by state and school.
How dual enrollment works
- Where: on a college campus, online, or in a high school classroom with a qualified instructor. Programs go by different names in different states.
- Who: usually juniors and seniors, sometimes younger students, who meet the college’s placement requirements and get school approval.
- Credit: the course counts toward high school graduation and appears on a college transcript.
- Cost: some states and districts cover tuition, others do not, and books or fees may be extra. Ask before enrolling.
The benefits
- A real taste of college pace, grading and independence before leaving home.
- Credits that may count toward a degree, especially at in-state public colleges that have agreements with the community college.
- Access to subjects the high school does not offer.
- A way to show academic readiness, particularly for students who learn better in a college setting.
The risks families sometimes miss
- A permanent record. The grade lives on a college transcript. A poor grade can follow a student when they later apply to college or to transfer.
- Transfer is not automatic. A credit may count as a general elective, satisfy a requirement, or not transfer at all. Our guide to transfer credits explains why.
- Less support. College instructors usually communicate with the student, not the parent, and federal privacy rules may limit what parents can see. The student has to advocate for themselves.
- Scheduling strain. Different calendars, commuting and online deadlines can collide with high school classes.
- Financial aid later. Grades earned now may count toward academic progress standards in college. A financial aid office can explain how.
Questions to ask before signing up
- Who pays tuition, fees and books?
- Will this course count toward high school graduation, and as which requirement?
- Is the course weighted in the high school GPA? See weighted vs unweighted GPA.
- Which colleges your teen is considering accept this credit, and as what?
- What happens if your teen needs to drop, and what are the deadlines?
- Who is the contact at the college if something goes wrong?
Dual enrollment rules are set by each state and program, and every receiving college decides on transfer for itself, so get answers from the high school counselor and the college before the term begins. Our college credit in high school guide compares dual enrollment with AP and IB.
Is your teen ready?
Academic placement is only part of it. A student who succeeds in dual enrollment can read a syllabus and track deadlines without reminders, email an instructor when confused, and manage time when no one is checking in daily. If those skills are still developing, start with one course, ideally one connected to an interest. Our guides on teen self-advocacy and talking to professors help build them.
Making the first course go well
- Read the full syllabus in the first week and put every due date and exam in one calendar alongside high school deadlines.
- Find the instructor’s office hours and the college’s tutoring or writing center before the first assignment is due.
- Check the college portal for grades at least weekly, since instructors may not send warnings home.
- Note the college’s withdrawal deadline, which may differ from the high school’s.
Where a mentor helps
Mentors are not tutors or academic advisers, and they do not decide which credits transfer. They help a dual enrollment student practice the college habits the course demands: reading the syllabus together, building a weekly plan around two calendars, and rehearsing that first email to an instructor. With the student’s permission, parents get progress updates even when the college does not send them. See mentoring for high school students or college transition mentoring.
Related
- College credit in high school
- Starting at community college
- AP classes explained
- The high school transcript explained
Common questions
Does a dual enrollment grade count in college?
Yes. It starts a college transcript, and later colleges may ask for it when your teen applies or transfers.
Is dual enrollment free?
Sometimes. Some states and districts cover tuition, others charge reduced or full rates. Ask your school and the college.
Is dual enrollment better than AP?
Neither is better in general. Dual enrollment always produces a college transcript grade, but transfer varies; AP credit depends on an exam score and each college’s policy.
Can parents talk to the college instructor?
Usually the instructor communicates with the student, and privacy rules may limit what is shared with parents. Plan for your teen to handle that contact.
Get started
Is your teen starting a college class and could use help building college habits? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.