One of the most wonderful opportunities for many high-schooled homeschoolers is the chance to take one or more college courses while they are still in high school. Not only can it be a venue for “outsourcing” some of the more lab-intensive or collaboration-improved courses, but it also allows home schoolers to get a head start on their college degree since many states allow the courses to count as both credit for high school AND college.
Sadly, not every state offers a dual-enrollment program, but for those that do, it’s important to find out what the rules are for enrolling, how the credits are counted, and whether the courses are free to students or require tuition.
We’ve compiled the following list of links by state to help you start the research process for your own homeschool. We hope it will help you make the decision whether a dual enrollment program is available and right for you.
| State | Terminology | Link | Homeschoolers Eligible? |
Notes |
| AL | Early College Enrollment Program (ECEP) | Alabama Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | In addition to dual-enrollment opportunities, AL also offers Early College initiatives and the “Fast Track to College Academy” program. |
| AK | No statewide policy, dual enrollment is offered on an institutional basis | Alaska Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Qualified high school students 16 years of age and older may enroll in one or two UAS courses per semester while still in high school by providing the below documentation. Students can also enroll through Anchorage Public School System. |
| AZ | State has two programs: Dual Enrollment and Concurrent Enrollment | Arizona Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Arizona permits students of any age to participate in dual enrollment, and not just juniors and seniors as previously stated. |
| AR | State has two programs: Dual Enrollment and Concurrent Enrollment | Arkansas Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | In addition, the early entrant must submit the credentials required of high school graduates except proof of graduation. |
| CA | Concurrent Enrollment | California Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | The student will earn both high school and college credit. If the student wishes to receive high school credit for a college class, a 3.0 unit or more one-semester college class will earn one semester of high school credit (5.0 credits). Guidelines differ between each college. |
| CO | State has two programs: Postsecondary Enrollment Options and Fast Track | Colorado Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Homeschoolers are eligible for part time participation. See FAQ document. |
| CT | High school partnerships program | Connecticut Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | The University of Connecticut offers a dual enrollment for high school students. |
| DE | Dual Enrollment/Awarding of Dual Credit | Delaware Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | State regulation encourages school districts to offer dual credit courses. Apply at the various universities and colleges that offer dual credit. |
| FL | Dual Enrollment | Florida Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Home Education students who have a 3.0 GPA can enroll in college credit courses, or students with a 2.0 GPA can enroll in vocational certificate courses. |
| GA | Move On When Ready Dual Enrollment | Georgia Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | The University System of Georgia has developed the MOWR program which all public, private, and home educated students are eligible to participate. Must apply to college first. |
| HI | Running Start | Hawaii Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Running Start and is offered on many college campuses. |
| ID | Postsecondary Enrollment Options | Idaho Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Both dual credit and dual enrollment through partnership between high schools and colleges. |
| IL | No statewide policy, dual enrollment is offered on an institutional basis | Illinois Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Dual credit is not mandated but integrated into the structure of education. All 48 community colleges offer some form of dual credit. Nearly three-quarters of all high schools participate. |
| IN | State has three programs: the Postsecondary Enrollment Program, Double Up for College, and Fast Track to College | Indiana Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Universities offer introductory level courses at the high school, often taught by high school teachers trained by the post secondary institutions awarding credit. |
| IA | Senior Year Plus | Iowa Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Homeschooled students have access to the Senior Year Plus dual enrollment process. FAQ sheet. |
| KS | Concurrent Enrollment | Kansas Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | A student can earn up 24 concurrent hours while still in high school. Must apply to desired state college. Example: Crowley College |
| KY | State has two programs: Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment | Kentucky Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | |
| LA | State has two programs: TOPS-Tech Early Start Award, and Early Start. In addition, voluntary agreements between high schools and postsecondary partners are referred to here as Traditional Dual Enrollment | Louisiana Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Must apply to the desired state college and submit to their admissions procedures. |
| ME | Early College and typical dual enrollment. | Maine Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Early College for ME and ON COURSE for COLLEGE programs are available. |
| MD | No title. State allows high school students to be dually enrolled in a high school and an institution of higher education | Maryland Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | |
| MA | Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership | Massachusetts Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Student participation in CDEP is at the discretion of the participating institution of higher education, subject to capacity constraints and state appropriation. |
| MI | State has two programs (no title for either program) | Michigan Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Post-Secondary Enrollment Options(PSEO) for eligible high school students. Eligibility criteria include: students must be in grades 11 or 12, enrolled in at least one high school course, and have taken the state assessment exam. |
| MN | Postsecondary Enrollment Options | Minnesota Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | |
| MS | State has three programs (no title for any program) | Mississippi Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | |
| MO | Dual Credit | Missouri Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | A postsecondary course option allows eligible students to attend vocational or academic classes on a college or university campus and receive both high school and college credit. |
| MT | State has two programs: Running Start and Class 8 Alternative License | Montana Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | A dual-credit course awards both high school credit and college credit for a college course taken by the high school student. |
| NE | State has two programs: Dual Credit and Concurrent Enrollment | Nebraska Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | UNO’s Dual Enrollment program allows academically talented students to earn college credit while still in high school. |
| NV | Dual Enrollment | Nevada Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | The state has many dual credit programs with community colleges as well as University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the University of Nevada-Reno. Student must submit to admission requirements. |
| NH | Running Start | New Hampshire Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Running Start program allows students to earn college credit while in high school. |
| NJ | Dual Enrollment | New Jersey Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Districts and postsecondary institutions may create partnerships in which college courses are offered to high school students on postsecondary campuses and in high schools |
| NM | Dual Credit | New Mexico Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Early Admittance Program for high academic achievers. |
| NY | No state policy | New York Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Dual enrollment of high school students in college courses controlled by postsecondary institutions |
| NC | Career and College Promise | North Carolina Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | This program allows eligible NC high school students to enroll in college classes at North Carolina community colleges and universities through their high school. |
| ND | Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program | North Dakota Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | North Dakota’s dual-credit program allows students in grades 10 through 12 to take college courses and receive college credit, which also may be used to meet high school graduation requirements. Tuition, fees, books and other costs are the student’s responsibility. |
| OH | College Credit Plus | Ohio Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program. High school students are allowed to take college courses for credit either at a high school or on a college campus. |
| OK | Concurrent Enrollment | Oklahoma Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Concurrent enrollment |
| OR | Expanded Options Program | Oregon Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | A large program allows students to earn college credit while in high school. |
| PA | Concurrent Enrollment | Pennsylvania Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | The operation of programs is regionalized not centralized. |
| RI | RIDE program | Rhode Island Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Dual enrollment program. |
| SC | Dual Enrollment | South Carolina Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Dual enrollment courses should be made available only to those who have mastered or nearly mastered the complete high school curriculum and who are capable of college-level coursework which, by definition, is more advanced than the regular high school curriculum provides. |
| SD | Dual Credit | South Dakota Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | The dual enrollment policy in South Dakota, which was enacted through a legislative bill passed in 1990, allows high school students to get a jump start on their college career while fulfilling high school requirements. |
| TN | State has two programs: Dual Enrollment and Joint Enrollment | Tennessee Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | |
| TX | Dual Credit | Texas Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Courses are offered by accredited colleges and include both academic and career/technical courses. |
| UT | Concurrent Enrollment | Utah Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | State program now available. |
| VT | State has two programs: Vermont State Colleges [VSC] Dual Enrollment and No Title | Vermont Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Eligible students may take one college course tuition free at designated Vermont colleges and universities while they are still in high school or during the summer after they graduate. Voucher Request |
| VA | Early College Scholars | Virginia Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | allows high school seniors to earn at least 15 hours of transferable college credit |
| WA | Running Start | Washington Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | The local higher education institution rather than the high school sets eligibility requirements. |
| WV | Dual Enrollment and EDGE | West Virginia Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | State statute requires higher education to provide college learning opportunities to high school students; Guidelines have been developed. |
| WI | Youth Options Program | Wisconsin Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | State and local school district funding |
| WY | Dual and Concurrent | Wyoming Dual Enrollment Info | Yes | Free for high school students |