In my book, anything that saves you money on college is a good investment of your student’s time and your financial resources. Dual enrollment can not only prepare your student for college level courses, but can save you money on college. These courses are offered in conjunction with local colleges and students can take both high school courses and college courses at the same time.
According to Wendy David-Gaines, the Long Island College Prep Examiner and POCSMom, dual enrollment courses offer huge benefits:
Taking these rigorous classes when students do well can demonstrate students are college-ready, making them more attractive applicants for admission. How well the concept of dual enrollment works to cut costs and time to college completion depends on if these credits will be credited toward a college degree.
According to the College Board, the average cost of college tuition is as follows:
| Type of College | Average Published Yearly Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|
| Public Two-Year College (in-district students) | $3,347 |
| Public Four-Year College (in-state students) | $9,139 |
| Public Four-Year College (out-of-state students) | $22,958 |
| Private Four-Year College | $31,231 |
Breaking that down:
- Public two year-college $3,347 : 30 credit hours = $111.46 per credit hour
- In-state tuition for a public four-year college: $9,139 : 30 credit hours = $304.63 per credit hour
- Out-of-state tuition for a public four-year college: $22,958 : 30 = $765.27 per credit hour
- Private four-year college: $31,231 : 30 = $1041.03 per credit hour
These numbers are based on published tuition costs, not what students actually end up paying out of their own pockets. There can be a big difference between those two numbers, thanks to financial aid.
But she also points out the pitfalls:
The pitfall is not all colleges accept credits earned at other schools. Students should check with schools on their college list to find out if any credits earned in high school will be accepted.
As you can see, enrolling in these courses in high school, can net substantial savings when paying for college. But before your student considers these courses, investigate the colleges that interest them and verify they accept these courses as college credit.