Dual enrollment programs have grown exponentially over the last 15 years. These programs benefit students post-graduation in several ways. The question you might be asking yourself is, “Is my child ready?”
In this article, we will explore what dual enrollment is, how it varies from state to state and even school to school, and how to know if your child is ready for it.
What Is Dual Enrollment?
Dual enrollment programs are collaborative agreements between high schools and colleges. These agreements allow high school students, typically juniors and seniors, to enroll in college coursework while they’re still in high school.
Some of the benefits of taking college-level courses for students are
- Their participation helps them transition more seamlessly from high school into college after they graduate.
- They can obtain college credit at a free or reduced cost (varies by state/college).
- Their overall college costs can be significantly decreased if they’re successful and have opportunities to enroll in multiple courses. (This is particularly valuable for homeschool or hybrid school students who may have more flexibility with their time.)
- If they’re in a low-income school district, the ability to attend college early can give them access to classes not offered in their high school.
- Tech education students who want to pursue a career also benefit from dual-enrolling in career technical programs while still in high school.
Getting college credit and high school credit at the same time is a win-win, right? Maybe.
Research is slow to keep pace with the rising trend in dual enrollment because long-term post-graduate efficacy is only now being studied nationwide. Still, enrolling in DE may be an excellent option for your student if they can meet the eligibility requirements and maintain good grades.
How Do Dual Enrollment Programs Differ?
Learnwell Collective is based in Georgia, so this article focuses on how dual enrollment programs in Georgia are helping students. However, to see how they compare, you’ll see some research based on other states’ results. It’s recommended that families residing outside of Georgia research their state and school district to understand how DE programs work.
In the state of Georgia, the 2026-2027 requirements are that a student must be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade at an approved post-secondary institution or in 10th grade, a student may enroll in approved Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education courses. Another option (which is especially well-suited for homeschool students) is that if a 10th-grader has met the minimum SAT score of 1200 or ACT score of 26 and wants to enroll in approved Georgia state or private college courses, they may.
Other requirements include being less than 22 years of age when you apply for dual enrollment, being accepted into an approved dual enrollment program at a post-secondary institution that qualifies before the deadline to apply, and funding cannot exceed 15 semester hours. In other words, if your student can and wants to apply for courses that add up to 21 hours per semester through dual enrollment, that’s okay; however, only 15 of those credit hours will be paid for under the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
Additional requirements are as follows:
- Must not hold a high school diploma (or equivalent)
- Must complete the Georgia Futures funding application
- Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Must have a parent or guardian’s signature
- Must be accepted into the program (college or CTAE) for which the student applies
- Must abide by the rules of the high school or home study program and the regulations set forth by the post-secondary institution they’re attending
Other states may have different requirements. According to the Louisiana Department of Education, students must have a 2.5 GPA and a specific subject-specific test score, a 3.0 GPA, or a counselor recommendation with 2.5 GPA. The best way to see what your state requires is to Google it—type in your state name and “dual enrollment eligibility” to learn more.
Is My Child Ready?
So, how do you know if your child is ready? Are there downsides to dual enrollment programs? What if your child takes a DE course and doesn’t do well? Are there ramifications?
One of the primary indicators of success, according to multiple researchers, is a student’s ability to self-manage their time, assignments, calendar, and other responsibilities (such as a job, household responsibilities, and extracurricular activities). If your child is already doing this well and gets good grades, they are likely to succeed in a DE course.
However, not all dual enrollment programs are created equal. While research remains thin nationwide, some states report lower grades and a lower likelihood of success in post-secondary programs among students who enrolled in online courses at universities or colleges. Similar findings report that students enrolled in blended DE programs — where students attend college courses while in high school, taught by college professors in person or by high school teachers at their high school — are more likely to do well and to transition more smoothly into post-secondary education.
There’s no guarantee, but preliminary research suggests that dual enrollment programs can be very effective for students who enroll in DE and have both school and home support. What does that support look like?
What Support Do Students Need in DE?
When students can take DE courses while enrolled in a homeschool or hybrid school environment with supportive, knowledgeable advisement, they are typically more successful in the college courses. Texas and Tennessee have established strong success models that provide students with equitable access to high-quality DE programs, advisement, and support.
Learnwell Collective offers advice and student coaching to families who want to make the most of their student’s dual-enrollment access. Learnwell’s flexible high school path allows students to meet regularly with their advisor to map out their preferred programs of study, identify colleges or CTAE programs to which they can apply and enroll, and meet Georgia’s high school graduation requirements.
Looking for a different high school experience for your child? Check out the Learnwell Collective core values, meet the staff and teachers, and explore the programs to see if it’s right for your family.
If a student is completing their dual enrollment online, parents need to check in regularly with their student about deadlines that will likely differ from their high school deadlines. Colleges have different breaks, expectations, and varying levels of support, so it’s essential to review these regularly with your student. Even highly organized students can let deadlines slip through the cracks, so we recommend starting dual enrollment slowly.
Choose a subject that your child excels in already, if you can, and if not, make sure you have a tutor or a teacher who can help your child if they start to struggle.
One of the most significant benefits of a Learnwell education is that parents and teachers get to know their students well, and students get to know themselves well. Knowing your students’ capabilities is essential to helping them make wise decisions about their future.
When students understand who they are and how they’re wired, they have a higher self-efficacy and expectation that they can succeed. Research shows a direct correlation between self-belief and expectation and dual enrollment success predictors.
Dual enrollment programs can be a tremendous blessing if your child is ready; your student’s grades do remain on their college transcript, so make sure you both understand that before enrolling at a post-secondary college or technical school.
Here’s an example of one university’s efforts to simplify the process. If your student has a specific college or CTAE they want to attend, they must check whether their dual-enrollment courses will transfer to meet the credits they need. Some students who hadn’t checked in advance discovered too late that their DE coursework wasn’t transferable at all, or that it counted as an elective rather than toward their degree program.
Please take every opportunity to learn about your child’s post-high school aspirations, how dual enrollment programs can affect their plans, and how the FAFSA has been updated. Reach out to your school’s advisement team to help you and your child discover the best options for them.