Dual Enrollment: Understanding the GPA Impact and Benefits

More and more high schools nationwide have sought to expand their curriculum by offering new types of courses beyond traditional coursework, which gives students more opportunities to prepare for their future and explore different subjects. One of the most popular options for today’s high school students is dual enrollment. Dual enrollment has enjoyed a rapid rise in popularity over the last several years. In this article we’ll explore the impact of dual enrollment on GPA and its potential benefits.

What is Dual Enrollment?

In short, high schools partner with local colleges and universities to offer undergraduate-level coursework to high school students. Dual enrollment involves a partnership between a school district and a nearby college or university. The college or university allows high school students to take courses through that college. That also means students have the opportunity to potentially earn transferable college credits before they graduate. Many dual enrollment classes also qualify students for dual credit. Dual enrollment classes vary widely depending on your school’s program. Some high schools do not offer dual enrollment or dual credit programs. Others may offer these programs through several different colleges.

When researching the question “what is dual enrollment?”, you may come across the term concurrent enrollment in your search. The concurrent enrollment definition is similar to the dual enrollment meaning previously discussed. However, there are some nuances to the concurrent enrollment definition to be aware of. In concurrent enrollment, the enrolled student is earning college credit, but not high school credit. The other main difference is the location where students take their classes. Dual enrollment classes are typically taken on the participating college or university campus. The concurrent enrollment definition can depend on where it is being offered. However, the concurrent enrollment definition is often used interchangeably with the term dual enrollment. Regardless, both concurrent enrollment and dual enrollment classes offer college credit and an opportunity to experience a college-level class before enrolling full-time.

Benefits of Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment classes have several positive benefits, which apply to any student who takes these programs. Dual enrollment classes are also more rigorous than other high school offerings. Students can therefore gain exposure to college-level work and perhaps even classes not normally provided at the high school level. This allows students to explore niche interests, while proving that they can complete college level work. As the dual enrollment meaning and name suggest, the students who benefit most from dual enrollment are those looking to pursue a four-year college degree after high school. Applicants to state schools, public universities, or community college transfer programs are particularly helped by dual enrollment programs. Students attending private universities or schools out of state may have some problems with dual enrollment credits transferring to those schools.

Here are some of the benefits of dual enrollment:

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Reduced Need for Student Loans. Earning college credit in high schools means you need fewer credits to graduate.
Lower Tuition Costs. While every program is different, most will offer college credits at a discounted rate compared to standard college tuition.
Fewer College Expenses.
Smoother Transition to College. The college experience is different from high school, which can be jarring for some freshmen.
Demonstrates College Preparedness.
Access to a Wider Range of Courses.

Dual Enrollment vs. AP and IB

When exploring what is dual enrollment and looking into the concurrent enrollment definition, you’ll likely want to know how they compare to other college readiness programs. Two such programs are International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP). Both dual enrollment and AP courses allow students to earn college credit before they graduate high school. This credit is earned through successful completion of the class with high enough scores to qualify for credit. In general, both dual enrollment and AP classes are more challenging than average high school classes. AP courses are also more standardized than dual enrollment meaning the quality of AP courses will be similar no matter the school. Additionally, students across the country will always take the same AP test. However, when it comes to answering “what is dual enrollment,” programs vary widely in their structure and content.

Another key difference when considering what is dual enrollment vs AP is how schools award college credit for these courses. Dual enrollment awards credit based on a student’s GPA in their dual enrollment classes. Furthermore, there is no single standard for what GPA or AP score is needed to earn credit. So, students will need to check the dual enrollment GPA requirement for their chosen school to know how they need to perform in the class for credit.

Dual Enrollment GPA Impact

Dual enrollment courses do count toward a student’s high school GPA, but exactly how depends on the school district’s grading policy. The impact of dual enrollment courses on your GPA will depend on your high school's specific policies. In some schools, dual enrollment courses may be given the same weight as AP classes when calculating your GPA. In other schools, dual enrollment courses might have a different weight or no additional weighting at all. If they're weighted the same as AP courses, they could have great potential to boost your GPA. Otherwise, they could still help, but not as dramatically. It's best to consult with your high school counselor or review your school’s specific policies on dual enrollment to determine how these classes would impact your GPA in your specific case.

In most cases, the final grade a student earns in the college class is transferred back to their high school transcript. Some districts weigh dual enrollment classes the same way they do AP or honors courses, meaning they may carry extra value toward GPA calculations. Others count them on a standard scale, so the grade has the same weight as a typical high school class. Doing well in dual enrollment courses can strengthen your GPA, but if you’re struggling, it will pull your GPA down. Because these are true college courses, you’ll earn grades without the same level of oversight that high school teachers may provide.

Even though dual enrollment classes may count for college credit, they do not impact your college GPA. This is similar to how AP courses are factored into your college academic transcript.

Choosing the Right Dual Enrollment Classes

Choosing the best classes to take in dual enrollment may seem like a daunting task at first. Knowing the basics beyond “what is concurrent enrollment?” and “what is dual enrollment?” can make the decision easier. Here are some things we think you should take into consideration when choosing the best classes to take in dual enrollment. Explore core subject areas like English, history, math, and science. This will help you to get a good sense of a broad selection of topics and whether they’d make good majors. Many institutions offer general education credits for courses taken in dual enrollment meaning more time to explore your interests through electives. Alternatively, what is concurrent enrollment’s benefit for students who’ve already got a plan? Well, you can choose courses that align with your potential major. For example, if you are interested in a health sciences major, consider taking anatomy and physiology. You can get ahead in your education journey by taking dual credit courses that align with your career interests.

The best classes to take in dual enrollment will all be challenging. While any college level course looks good on your application, keep in mind that concurrent enrollment prevents those courses from counting toward your high school credits. The best classes to take in dual enrollment are the ones that will strengthen your high school transcript-this means choose classes of interest to you that you can succeed in!

Before you enroll in dual credit courses, do your research to make sure your dream school will accept them. While many colleges do accept dual credit courses, some do not. For example, many top private schools do not accept dual enrollment credit, even if they give credit for AP courses.

Dual Credit vs. Dual Enrollment

With dual credit, you earn both high school and college credit at the same time. Dual enrollment gives you college credit, but it doesn’t always count toward your high school graduation. Dual credit programs often have GPA minimums set by the high school and the college. Dual credit classes are usually taught by high school teachers who’ve been approved by a partnering college.

Dual credit classes are often less expensive than traditional college courses, and some may even be free. Most dual credit classes are taught right at your high school or online. Dual credit classes are a combination of high school and college courses and can serve as a great transition step. If you do poorly in a dual credit class, that grade doesn’t just impact your college transcript - it also affects your high school GPA.

Are you better off taking dual credit courses vs. a dual enrollment program? If you really want the true college experience of being on campus, dual enrollment is the better option. Dual enrollment classes can feel more demanding, as they’re taught at the college level by college instructors. With dual credit courses, you may be able to receive more support if you’re still in a high school environment. Dual credit is often free or heavily discounted because it’s offered through a partnership with your high school.

Problems with Dual Enrollment

In previous sections, we’ve hinted at some problems with dual enrollment:

Schools in these communities often lack sufficient resources to offer dual enrollment courses, from partnerships with colleges to qualified instructors and funding.
Even when dual enrollment programs are available, they tend to be underused by minority groups. Lack of awareness, inadequate counseling, and other barriers contribute to this trend. Even schools that offer these courses may have students unaware of the concurrent enrollment definition.
Unlike programs like AP or IB, there are no sweeping standards for dual enrollment meaning policies can be confusing and inconsistent. Differences in eligibility requirements, course availability, dual credit transfer policies, and funding can make navigating the system challenging. This lack of standardization can also affect the quality, amount, and rigor of courses.

How to Get Started with Dual Enrollment

After answering the question “what is dual enrollment?” and looking into the different dual enrollment options, you may be wondering about next steps.

Talk to Your Counselor: First, talk to your school counselor and decide what pathway you want to pursue. The question “what is dual enrollment?” can have many answers. As such, you may have a variety of different classes to choose from.
Check Requirements: Once you have selected the best classes to take in dual enrollment, the next step to pursuing dual enrollment or dual credit classes is checking the requirements. Students may also need a parental permission or letter of recommendation as the requirements for dual enrollment vary from school to school.
Apply: Once you have decided which dual credit or dual enrollment classes you want to take, you may need to apply. Indeed, the best classes to take in dual enrollment may have limited spaces available. Make sure that you have looked into the specifics of what is dual enrollment for your classes and your school.
Register: If you are accepted to a dual enrollment program, then you will then proceed to register for your classes. When registering, make sure you know whether you are taking classes in person or online.
Complete Course Requirements: The final step is actually completing the course requirements and keeping up with the dual credit workload. Because you are earning college and high school credits simultaneously (unless you fall under the concurrent enrollment definition), the workload for dual enrollment classes is significantly more than a regular class. Be prepared to have a similar or even more difficult workload than an AP or IB class. Remember that you can only receive the benefits if you receive a minimum grade.

Examples of Universities Accepting Dual Enrollment Credits

Many students even apply to schools where they have participated in dual enrollment programs, starting ahead of their classmates on the path toward graduation. Here are a few examples of schools that accept dual enrollment credits:

University of California: UC’s site provides their specific policies for accepting dual enrollment. Some key points include how you should report coursework, how dual credits impact GPA calculation, and which dual enrollment courses qualify.
Penn State: Penn State is one university that offers dual credit to high school students who attend one of Penn State’s campuses. Dual enrollment classes are available to high school seniors, or to juniors on a case-by-case basis. Students are able to take up to eight dual enrollment credits per semester. However, most of their students take one or two dual enrollment courses per semester in addition to their normal high school curriculum.
Texas A&M Commerce: Texas A&M Commerce offers dual enrollment courses through their partnership schools. Some Texas A&M Commerce dual enrollment course offerings focus on the core curriculum. This concurrent enrollment definition means you can get a head start on core courses. Students must meet Texas Success Initiative eligibility requirements and have permission from a counselor or principal to enroll.

These are just a few schools that accept dual enrollment meaning there are many more out there-maybe even your dream school. Be sure to do your own research to find out about others that accept dual enrollment credit and their specific policies.

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