Dual Enrollment Courses in Online High Schools: Prepare for College!
Without dual enrollment opportunities, students may find the transition to college more difficult and end up having to pay for and retake courses already completed in high school. In this guide, students can find out the best dual enrollment options and how to prepare for them.
Online High School Dual Enrollment
An online dual enrollment course lets students complete college courses for credit while still in high school. High schools like Liberty University Online Academy, Grand Canyon University, Forest Trail Academy, Michigan Technological University, Primavera Online High School, and the University of Florida offer a wide selection of classes taught by college professors.
Dual enrollment allows students to challenge themselves academically, get a head start on college majors, and save money on tuition. High school seniors can simultaneously graduate with a diploma and an associate’s degree through these innovative dual enrollment programs.
| School | Programs Offered | Admission | Average Tuition per Academic Year | Financial Aid Options |
| LU Online Academy | Wide range of GA courses | Rolling admission, 3.0 GPA, essay, recommendation letter | $4,000 | Scholarship, flexible payment plans |
| Grand Canyon University | STEM, business, arts and humanities | 3.0 GPA required | $7,000 | Scholarships |
| Forest Trail Academy | College prep, AP, honors tracks | Application, transcript, test scores | $5,500 | Merit scholarships |
| Michigan Tech University | Engineering, math, science, tech | Competitive, 3.5+ GPA | $3,500 | Need-based aid |
| Primavera Online High School | Self-paced courses | Open admission | $6,000 | Need and merit-based aid |
| University of Florida | Academically accelerated courses | 3.6 GPA, SAT/ACT scores | $3,000 | Limited aid available |
High school students in America enjoy this privilege through Dual Enrollment or DE Programs. These programs permit them to enroll in separate institutions that offer “academically related” college or university courses. They also prepare you for college while in high school!
Liberty University Online Academy
Liberty University Online Academy is a Christian-based online high school that centers on the Christian biblical perspective for teaching dual enrollment students. LUOA has been accredited by SACS CASI, which means that the institution’s online classes meet the standards and academic rigor requirements set by the organization.
It offers the dual enrollment program as an opportunity for junior and senior LUOA students. Most importantly, when a high school student qualifies for the program, you earn an Associate of Arts degree while in high school. Students can participate in interactive forums and finish coursework with the help of virtual resources.
Liberty University Online brings you this dual enrollment option. It is important that students are eligible to take part in the DE Program. With course time flexibility, your own personal academic adviser, and all the other tools provided for you, students can complete college courses on their own schedule.
- Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
- Programs offered: Wide range of general education courses in humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, math, and Christian studies
- Credits: Up to 62 credits
- Contact number: 866-418-8741
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University has flexible and affordable online classes for high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit. Students can enroll part-time and build their own program based on their schedule and interests.
GCU’s online classroom offers 48 dual enrollment courses in 7- and 15-week formats, allowing students to receive credit. The interactive online classrooms promote collaboration with professors and peers. GCU aims to customize each student’s dual enrollment path to support their career goals, whether in software engineering, teaching, or other fields.
With tuition at $157.50 per 3-credit course, GCU provides a quality dual enrollment experience at a fraction of standard costs. Online dual enrollment students with a sufficient GPA can experience college-level work through this program.
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- Programs offered: STEM programs, business, healthcare, education, ministry, performing arts
- Credits: Up to 60 credits
- Contact number: +1 602-639-7500
Forest Trail Academy
Holding true to its motto, “Academic Excellence,” Forest Trail Academy has an accredited K-12 online curriculum for students. The academy brings quality homeschooling to the United States and worldwide through its distance online school education platform. Most of all, it belongs to the list of top-rated online high schools in the US.
All Forest Trail curricula are accredited and taught by highly qualified instructors. Among these are Online Elementary Courses, Online High School Courses, Online Diploma Courses, Individual Courses, and Advanced Placement Classes. However, the school’s Dual Enrollment For College Credits (Associate Degree) for students is the most interesting.
Taking classes in the dual enrollment program is an amazing opportunity for qualified high school students to earn college credits while still in high school. The team of Forest Trail Academy admissions advisors can also help dual enrollment students figure out DE Program eligibility and application.
- Location: West Palm Beach, Florida
- Programs offered: College prep tracks, AP courses, honors courses, electives like art, music, and world languages
- Credits: Over 30 credits
- Contact number: 561-537-5501
Michigan Technological University
Do you think you have what it takes to qualify for Michigan Technological University‘s dual enrollment program? Prepare yourself because their curriculum is quite extensive, to say the least. Michigan Tech’s DE Program is for academically talented high school students who want to beat the rest of their peers to college.
Dual enrollment students have to be smart, active in extracurricular activities, and persistent and diligent in their studies to qualify for financial aid. Likewise, you still need to take high school courses and secure approval from your school to participate in the MTU Dual Enrollment Program.
In addition, students need to have a GPA of 3.00 or higher to qualify. Otherwise, you will have to take self-enrichment classes and reach the grade requirements. If you think you got it, here is the Application for Admission, and welcome to Michigan Tech!
- Location: Houghton, Michigan
- Programs offered: Engineering, computer science, business, biology, chemistry, mathematics
- Credits: Up to 60 credits
- Contact number: 888-688-1885
Primavera Online High School
Primavera Online High School takes pride in its standing as Arizona’s best online high school. It offers 100% online, 100% tuition-free, and 100% accredited curricula for students. Because of the institution’s flexible and personalized coursework, success as a college student is certain to come your way.
Primavera Online High School promises to equip its dual enrollment students with the tools necessary to succeed and excel in life. Through the available Dual-Credit courses for high school students, you get a head start on college classes. One-on-one instructions are also available to students who consult with their high school and college teachers in an appointment.
Since Primavera is 100% online, including in its dual credit courses, you’ll save money on books and especially on tuition fees! It also offers self-paced courses where students work by themselves. Planning to take English 12A (ENG 101), English 12B (ENG 102), or Psychology A (PSY 101), why not take it in Primavera?
- Location: Chandler, Arizona
- Programs offered: Self-paced academic courses, career-focused electives in IT, health sciences, hospitality, and creative arts
- Credits: Over 100 credits
- Contact number: 480-456-6678
University of Florida
Go Gators! The University of Florida is dedicated to providing quality and extensive education. While the university is located on a physical campus, its dual enrollment program helps qualified high school students gain direct access to their available coursework straight from their home district.
This is made possible through the full online platform of the university system. Highly qualified UF professors and instructors provide hands-on teaching of the courses. The UF coordinator, who is equally helpful in giving new dual enrollment students advice and guidance on the registration process, created this welcome video:
Eligible University of Florida high school juniors or seniors can take the dual enrollment program. However, students must maintain a 3.6 GPA (unweighted) to be fully qualified. Providing real academic challenges, check out the list of courses offered in their Dual Enrollment program.
- Location: Gainesville, Florida
- Programs offered: Academically accelerated courses in natural science, technology, engineering, arts, humanities, writing, math, and social sciences
- Credits: Up to 45 credits
- Contact number: 352-392-1374
What Is Dual Enrollment?
Dual enrollment allows high school students to take courses online and earn credit towards both their secondary school diploma and a college degree. There are several models for dual enrollment programs.
- Some programs have students attend classes on a college campus alongside traditional college students. This immersive experience helps ease the transition to college life and exposes students to potential colleges they may want to attend.
- Courses are taught by college professors, who can provide recommendations. Including high school credit, newly-earned credits are very likely to transfer to that college if the student enrolls after high school graduation.
- Concurrent enrollment programs allow students to take college-level courses at their own school, taught by college professors or approved high school teachers. This is a convenient option that keeps students in a familiar setting.
- Early college high school classes are the most intensive, enabling students to take multiple online courses and potentially earn an associate degree or a certificate program by the time they graduate from secondary school.
Pros of Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to take college courses for credit. This provides several advantages:
- Dual enrollment can save significant money on college tuition by earning free college credits toward a degree. Students may graduate college early or have flexibility in their schedules for things like double majoring.
- Getting a head start on rigorous coursework as a college student will help you understand professors’ expectations and ease the transition to college academics. Dual enrollment professors are often flexible with high schoolers who are learning the ropes.
- Taking college classes expands options beyond secondary school offerings and lets students explore potential majors. This may increase the motivation to complete a full degree.
- College environments suit some students better in terms of social settings and maturity level.
Cons of Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment online courses may not be viewed as quite as rigorous as AP courses by some selective colleges. Students hoping to attend highly competitive schools may want to focus more on APs for admissions purposes. However, dual enrollment still demonstrates the ability to handle advanced coursework.
- There may be instances where dual enrollment credits won’t get transferred, depending on the policies of each school. Students should research transferability at schools they are interested in attending.
- Courses are sometimes taught by high school teachers rather than college professors. The quality may vary compared to a traditional college classroom experience.
- In certain cases, heavy dual enrollment may reduce the high school GPA if the courses are weighted differently.
- This may affect eligibility for college sports, including class standing and scholarship eligibility.
Discuss the trade-offs with your school counselor. While dual enrollment has many benefits, students should carefully consider any potential cons based on their specific goals and situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can High School Students Choose an Online Dual Enrollment Program?
When selecting an online dual enrollment program, research the variety of courses offered, instructors’ qualifications, transferability of credits, and overall flexibility of scheduling and pacing of classes. Students can also talk to high school and college counselors and ask about programs that align with their academic strengths and interests.
How Can You Succeed in Online Dual Enrollment Classes and Get College Credit?
To succeed in online dual enrollment courses, stay organized, advocate for yourself by regularly communicating with high school and college instructors, and actively participate in online discussions with other students. It also helps to set aside sufficient time for studying challenging college-level materials.
How to Pay for Online Dual Enrollment Programs?
While most online dual enrollment programs are offered tuition-free to dual enrollment students, you should still check with your school district and prospective online programs about costs and scholarship options. In this way, you can maximize college credit earned while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses.
Conclusion
While we acknowledge that online high schools may not be the best choice for everyone, they are an option that offers the convenience every student needs. Dual enrollment programs offered by these online high schools are for the most qualified students.
Understanding online dual enrollment opens up opportunities for earning college credit, becoming familiar with college course formats, reducing future costs, and getting on a faster track to enter college. Taking college classes while in secondary school allows students to explore interests, gain skills, and add impressive credentials to college applications.