In reality, one option just begins before the other.
In this blog, we’ll compare each choice so you can determine the best one for your higher education goals.
What is Dual Enrollment for High School Students?
Dual enrollment entails taking college courses while in high school to jumpstart your undergraduate degree.
High schools typically offer it in partnership with a local community college or university. In some instances, you receive high school credit for completing the course, which is known as dual credit.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, 2.8 million students participated in dual enrollment during the 2023-24 academic year, a 12.7 percent increase from 2022-23.
Research indicates these programs improve academic outcomes including:
- Completing high school
- Attending college
- Earning a bachelor’s degree
You can also enroll on your own through accredited online institutions such as Portage Learning.
Its self-directed format allows you to complete courses on your schedule. Students enjoy a one-to-one relationship with professors who provide regular feedback and grade exams within 72 hours so you can stay on track. Credits earned transfer to more than 2,800 colleges and universities. Some of the dual enrollment courses offered include:
- General Chemistry I with Lab
- English Composition I
- Introduction to Sociology
- General Psychology
- Essential Biology II with Lab
What Are College Courses After High School?
It’s when you take college courses after graduating from high school. It’s the more traditional way to obtain your undergraduate degree.
College course offerings include:
- General education: Provide the basis for your schooling, regardless of your field of study.
- Prerequisites: Need to be completed before taking a more advanced course or entering a program.
- Major-specific: Upper-level and required for your specific field of study.
- Electives: Taken outside of your major and aim to explore your interests or boost credits.
If you pass one course, you earn a set number of credits that count toward your degree completion.
College Courses vs. Dual Enrollment: How They Compare in Six Key Areas
Both college courses and dual enrollment help you pursue higher education. One option just begins before the other.
Here’s what else you need to know about each experience
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Eligibility and admission requirements
Involvement in dual enrollment programs depends on the state, your school district, and the participating institution. Stipulations generally include:
- A minimum GPA between 2.5 and 3.0.
- Must be a high school junior or senior
Colleges also require a minimum GPA and the following for admission:
- A completed application
- Official high school transcripts
- ACT/SAT test scores
- A personal statement or admissions essay
Tuition and financial aid
When you take a college course, you pay the tuition rate set by the institution along with additional expenses such as:
- Housing
- Meal plans
- Books and supplies
- University fees
- Transportation and personal expenses
You can fund your education through a combination of:
- Personal savings
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Loans
Some students choose to complete their first two years at a community college, where tuition is less per credit, then transfer to a four-year university.
Proponents of dual enrollment highlight it as another way to minimize the cost of your degree.
State funding often covers dual enrollment, or institutions may provide a reduced tuition rate.
If your program does not offer these opportunities, you will pay the same rate as a college’s other students, aside from room and board.
You might be eligible for scholarships, and 529 savings funds can be used to offset the price. Dual enrollment does not qualify for federal financial aid, known as FAFSA.
At Portage Learning, tuition is $223 per credit — significantly less than the average four-year public university charges in-state residents — and includes all text and video materials needed.
Course rigor and academic expectations
Whether you choose dual enrollment or prefer to take college courses after high school graduation, you will be challenged academically.
With dual enrollment, you’ll join college students in taking the same courses, which institutions develop to meet industry and accreditation standards. As part of your coursework, you will:
- Write essays and research papers
- Analyze complex text and concepts
- Complete projects that demonstrate critical thinking
- Participate in discussions that reflect college-level expectations
- Manage your time and meet firm academic deadlines
Keep the reputation of an institution – and even an instructor – in mind. If it’s perceived poorly, that may impact credit transferability or your employability.
Credit transfer
In general, program credits carry over if you plan to attend the college you took a course through, or if you go to a university within the same state.
High schoolers interested in obtaining a degree at private or out-of-state institutions should check whether they accept dual enrollment.
Two factors drive most decisions on whether credit earned at one college will be accepted at another:
- Accreditation: Does a U.S. Department of Education accredited body recognize your previous university?
- Course alignment: Will the course match the level, content, and purpose of one in the new program?
Learning environment
Dual enrollment may impact your high school experience.
Programs run through a local institution typically occur in person, which require commuting to campus a few times a week.
You traditionally take college courses in a classroom too, but you can earn a degree through hybrid, accelerated, or online programs.
Flexibility and scheduling options
College courses span a 16-week long semester.
However, as noted above, many institutions offer formats that allow you to build a schedule that fits your personal responsibilities.
Many dual enrollment programs limit the courses available to students. For example, at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, you may enroll in only two courses each term.
You will not encounter that at Portage Learning.
The asynchronous courses allow you to study anytime, anywhere, perfect for those balancing heavy schedules. Because of the course design, the content can be finished faster than a traditional semester.
Other Ways to Earn College Credit in High School
You can also earn college credits before arriving on campus through:
- Advanced Placement (AP) courses
- College-Level Examination Program exams
Here’s how these programs compare to dual enrollment.
AP courses
AP courses expose you to college-level courses through your high school classroom.
At the end of the school year, you take an exam and must score at least a three or higher on it to receive credit.
Students who prefer to stay within the high school class structure and schedule select this option.
Other advantages include:
- Stronger applications: For many institutions, AP courses indicate ambition and college readiness.
- Academic rigor: Standardized course materials and exams provide a clear, national benchmark of mastery.
- Low cost: Students pay $99 per test.
Keep in mind not every high school offers AP courses. The ability to earn credit also depends on one exam performance, which can be stressful.
CLEP exams
You can receive college credit for what you already know with CLEP exams.
There are 34 of them in five subject areas, including:
- American Government
- English Literature
- Chemistry
- Principles of Marketing
- Information Systems
The number of questions you answer correctly converts to a scaled score that ranges from 20 to 80. The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends colleges grant credit for results above 50, but institutions can set their own acceptance policies.
Students often use CLEP exams to work through general education requirements, but institutions often put guidelines on how many can be applied toward a degree.
For example, the University of Pittsburgh's policy stipulates in part:
- You must be at least 20 years old, or two years removed from high school.
- CLEP subject exams must be taken before completing 90 college credits.
- You may transfer a combined total of 60 credits from CLEP exams and two-year colleges.
Colleges do this, in part, to ensure you understand a subject rather than just know how to take a test on it.
Choosing Your Advantage for the Future
You can earn your undergraduate degree in a number of ways.
Maybe it’s the traditional route, taking college courses full time after graduating from high school. Or you could enter a dual enrollment program to save time and money.
Whatever the option, don’t debate the outcome. It should clearly support your higher education goals.
(Start earning college credit in high school with Portage Learning’s online, dual enrollment courses.)
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