What Happens to Dual Enrollment Credits After High School?

"Dual enrollment is often described to high school students and their families as a way to get an early college experience at a significantly reduced cost. These students will earn college credit-sometimes even an associate degree or other college credential-before graduating high school, potentially reducing the time and cost of earning a bachelor's degree. At least that's the promise. But what happens when the path after high school isn't so clear?"

"Students may not be aware, or advised on, whether their DE courses will be accepted for credit toward a bachelor's or other credential in their major field of interest. Among the more than 4,000 DE students from 17 colleges who participated in the pilot of the Dual Enrollment Survey of Student Engagement (DESSE), fewer than half reported ever interacting with a college adviser, and 88 percent reported never having utilized the college's transfer credit services."

Dual enrollment offers high school students early college credit and potential cost and time savings, but transfer pathways frequently prove unclear. Many students lack guidance on whether their DE courses will count toward bachelor's degrees or specific major requirements. Interaction with college advisers and use of transfer credit services are uncommon, as shown by DESSE pilot data. Limited research exists on transfer outcomes for DE students. The mismatch between expectations and actual credit mobility can lead to lost credits, delayed degree progress, and unforeseen financial burdens for former DE students.

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