Dual-enrollment programs represent one of the fastest growing programs designed to support the high school-to-college transition. Yet, there is limited empirical evidence about the impact of these efforts on either students’ college application choices or admission outcomes.
In exploring this subject, the authors of this paper from the Community College Research Center found that taking dual enrollment credits increased the total number of colleges students applied to and the likelihood of applying to any moderately or highly selective in-state four-year institution.
Attempting dual enrollment credits also increased the total number of in-state four-year colleges a student got admitted to and the probability of being admitted to a highly selective in-state four-year college. Heterogeneous analysis further indicates that the gains were primarily driven by Black students, the report suggests.