So you want to earn college credit while in high school.
What’s the best way to do that… for you?
du•al en•roll•ment (noun) – a program that enrolls high school students in college classes and allows them to earn college credit; courses may or may not also count towards high school credit
du•al cred•it (noun) – a program that enrolls high school students in college classes and allows them to earn high school and college credit at the same time
ear•ly col•lege (noun) – a comprehensive college program that enrolls high school students and allows them to earn an associate degree by the time they graduate high school
A lot of people think that dual enrollment is only for the highest academic achievers or for students who want to go to a 4-year college or university. But that’s not the case!
South Carolina’s technical colleges are the only colleges in the state that also offer dual enrollment courses in technical fields.
How do you know which is right for you?
College-ready dual enrollment courses help you transition smoothly to a 2- or 4-year college or university. These general education classes are required at most colleges before you move into your major or area of specialty.
| Here’s a sample of what these classes might look like: | |
| English 101 | Music Appreciation |
| General Psychology | American History |
| Public Speaking | Biological Science |
| College Algebra | Computer Concepts |
College-ready dual enrollment courses may be offered at your high school, online, or at a technical college campus – or maybe a mix of all three.
If you take college-ready dual enrollment courses, you’re shaving semesters – maybe even years – off the amount of time you would otherwise spend in college.
Benefit #1: DE prepares you to handle college-level work.
No surprises for you. You’ll know what to expect.
Benefit #2: DE lightens your college load.
You won’t have to worry about doubling up or overloading on gen ed courses to finish on time. You’ll already have them.
Benefit #3: DE helps you transfer seamlessly to a 4-year college or university.
With the basics checked off your list, you can focus on your major.
Career-ready dual enrollment courses help you stand out in a competitive workforce after graduation. Through hands-on learning at your career or technical center, you can earn credentials that employers are looking for.
| Here’s a sample of what these classes might look like: | |
| Welding | Mechatronics |
| Entrepreneurship | Automotive Technology |
| Accounting | Commercial Art |
| Cybersecurity | Healthcare |
Career-ready dual enrollment courses are offered at your school or district career center.
If you take career-ready dual enrollment course,you’re accelerating your entry into the workforce and often earning a higher entry salary than your peers with four-year degrees.
Benefit #1: DE makes you a more appealing candidate to employers.
They’ll be super impressed if they see you’ve already got certifications or training that they normally have to offer to entry-level employees.
Benefit #2: DE lets you explore career paths early.
If you find out a certain path is not for you, you’ve lost nothing; in fact, you have time to try out something else. If it is for you, you get to learn and do work that you enjoy at the same time.
Benefit #3: DE gives you quicker access to higher-paying jobs.
You will step into the workforce ahead of your competition – which means a better income, more connections in your field, and a maybe even a different title for you.
And no matter which dual enrollment path you choose, you save money. Who doesn’t want to get a quality education and save thousands of dollars at the same time? (Mom and Dad will thank you too!)
Benefit #1: You can get a no-cost education now.
If you take six credit hours per semester – that’s the equivalent of two classes – your dual enrollment education will be covered by Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA).
Benefit #2: You can get a low-cost education now.
Let’s say you only want to take one class rather than the required two. You’re still paying less than if you took the same class at college.
Benefit #3: You can minimize student loan debt later.
Fewer credits to complete in college and a shorter time to degree completion means smaller student loans and less overall debt.
Public, private, and homeschooled high school students can participate in dual enrollment with the permission of their high school or homeschool association.
Since dual enrollment requires a cooperative effort between your high school and your local technical college, it’s important to know who to reach out to at both.
Your counselor can answer questions about dual enrollment, explain how it works at your school, check your eligibility, and help you enroll.
The dual enrollment coordinator works closely with your school counselor and is your primary contact for all college-related questions about financial aid, advising, and transfer. This person also helps out at high school outreach events, such as parent information nights and group enrollment help sessions.
Dual enrollment classes may be taught by technical college instructors or by high school teachers who meet the qualifications to teach at the college level.
One advantage of taking dual enrollment through a technical college is that you can enroll in fall, spring, or summer semester of your junior or senior year. That’s a lot of flexibility – and you can take as many or as few courses as you like.
Exceptions can be made for freshmen or sophomores – but that’s kind of rare. Why? Because there’s a difference between being eligible and being ready.
| To be eligible, you need: |
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| To be ready, you need: |
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Are you ready for dual enrollment?
Connect with an enrollment advisor at your local technical college today!
Get started!