Dual Enrollment and College Admissions

Kendra Solis

Now that we know what Dual Enrollment is, let's learn about some of the benefits and impacts on college admissions.

Benefits:

• According to the official Department of Education blog, "On average, dual enrollment has a positive impact on high school academics, high school graduation rates, college enrollment, college success, and college completion rates. 
• Research on a New York City dual enrollment program found that it improved postsecondary attainment, reduced time to degree, and increased student academic performance."
• An added benefit is that it can help lower the out-of-pocket cost for parents, guardians, and students as these classes are free for high school students.

So what impact if any does dual enrollment have on college admissions? Let's break that down -

• Earning a good grade in a dual enrollment course demonstrates a student's ability to maintain a rigorous course load.
• At the same time, that high grade in a college-level course boosts the student's weighted GPA. Admissions officers want to be confident that students they admit will thrive in a rigorous academic environment, and a dual enrollment course, just like AP or IB courses, can help them build that confidence in an applicant.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments and if you have any questions!😊