It is always important for high school students to start thinking about transitioning to the next step after graduation. For those who want to continue their education, dual enrollment with the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) can give students a competitive advantage over their peers.
How it works
By utilizing the dual enrollment program, you can start smart at your local community college. High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can earn college credit while still attending high school.
Dual enrollment is the shortest path to begin training for the workforce or for a four-year degree. Some students even graduate with their associate degree from an Alabama community college before graduating high school!
A head start to a successful career
Andalusia High School Zade Newton was able to use the program as a shortcut to a $70k career right out of high school.
“Going into my 10th grade year, my dad told me that I was going to start dual enrollment that summer no matter what,” said Newton.
Enrolling in the dual enrollment program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (LBW) was meant to give Newton a backup plan. “I started liking it, and I fell in love with it,” Newton stated.
Newton was hired for an entry-level position with Reliance Test and Technology because of his strong technical skills gained at LBW, and for having the credentials to prove it. He earned both his associate degree in industrial electronics and EPA Section 608 Technician Certification.
Over the past decade, Alabama’s community and technical colleges have served as the launching pad for countless transfer students. Braxton Clines is among the 14% of ACCS students who transferred to a four-year institution and entered a health care program.
Before even receiving his high school diploma in 2023, Clines had already crossed the stage at Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC).
“I really enjoyed the way that I could adapt my schedule around my classes because most were available online,” said Clines.
By securing a head start, he not only saved time and money but also swiftly earned his white coat at Auburn University’s Harrison College of Pharmacy. It typically takes up to seven years of schooling, but he found a way to reduce it by three years when starting at an Alabama community college.
“I am extremely grateful,” said Clines. “Dual enrollment has shaped the way that I’ve learned material and has been a necessary part of my training for pharmacy school.”
More reasons to consider the dual advantage
Dual enrollment graduates are more likely to transition with more benefits and certainty than classmates who don’t enroll.
The top reasons students consider dual enrollment at a community college are:
- Cost Savings: Pay less than half the cost—or little to nothing—for many dual enrollment courses offered at your local community college.
- Simultaneous Credit: Coursework counts for high school and college, at the same time!
- Experience: Start college early. Ease the transition when graduating high school.
- Achievement: Dual enrollment students are more likely to enroll in college right out of high school, earning a higher GPA in their first year of college!
Get connected
Scholarships for dual enrollment classes are available. Eligible students must be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grades, have a 2.5 GPA and obtain written approval from a principal or superintendent.
The path to success frequently starts within one’s own community. Students, regardless of their future goals, can lay a strong foundation for their journey at any Alabama community college. This solid groundwork supports them no matter where their academic and professional pursuits may lead.
