Dual Enrollment: The Head Start Most High Schoolers Don't Know They Can Take

If you have a high schooler who's college-bound, dual enrollment might be the most underused tool in your planning arsenal. The pitch is simple: students take real college courses while still in high school, earn transferable credits, get a feel for college-level work, and in many cases, save thousands of dollars on tuition before they ever set foot on a campus as a full-time student. For families thinking about four-year costs, shaving off even one semester through early credits is worth paying attention to.

That said, dual enrollment comes with real strings attached, and glossing over them does students a disservice. College course grades go on an actual college transcript and factor into a student's GPA for admissions purposes. A rough semester in 10th grade can follow a student into their applications. On top of that, successfully completed courses generally cannot be retaken at the college level, so there's no do-over if the material didn't fully land the first time. Credits also count toward maximum enrollment thresholds, which matters more than most families realize when planning a four or five-year path through a degree program.

The financial aid angle is worth flagging too. Dual enrollment can affect eligibility calculations depending on the institution and how credits are counted, so it's worth a conversation with a college counselor before signing up for courses just to bank credits. Done thoughtfully, dual enrollment is a genuine advantage. Done carelessly, it creates complications that take real time to untangle.

Some Dual Enrollment Options Include:

• Community college courses taken on campus or online, often the most accessible and affordable route for high schoolers looking to earn transferable credits.

• Early college high schools, which are specialized programs where students can earn up to two years of college credit as part of their regular high school curriculum.

• University-based dual enrollment programs, offered directly through four-year institutions that allow students to take courses and earn credits that are often easier to transfer to that specific school, such as BYU Independent Study.

• Career and technical education (CTE) dual enrollment, which combines vocational training with college credit, a strong option for students with a clear career path in trades, healthcare, or technology.

• Online dual enrollment programs through accredited institutions, which have expanded significantly and give students in rural or under-resourced areas access to college coursework they wouldn't otherwise have, such as UC Scout.