Dual Enrollment Works - Now It’s Time to Scale It

I have three kids: two biological children and one bonus child the universe brought to me.

My youngest son is the kind of kid who has always been smart, curious, and capable, but not especially interested in “doing school” in the traditional way we often expect students to do it. Like many students, that meant he often ended up in lower-level classes where the instruction was less engaging and less rigorous, which only further lowered his interest in completing the tasks school required of him.

When we got him into a dual enrollment class at Michigan State University, it completely changed the trajectory of his educational experience.

He thrived in that class. He loved being treated like a college student. He loved the challenge, the independence, and the sense that the work actually mattered. After that experience, he has gone on to take two more classes at Lansing Community College this semester. He is enrolled in summer classes at LCC and is planning to take a full slate of dual enrollment courses there during his senior year.

The impact has been remarkable.

Not only is he more motivated and focused, but he is also thinking more seriously about his future. When he took his first dual enrollment class at MSU, he thought he wanted to pursue sports journalism. Through these experiences, he realized that path was probably not the right fit for him, and now he is more interested in business or political science. That clarity matters.

Dual enrollment has benefited him as a learner, but it has also benefited our family. He will enter higher education with college credits already completed, greater confidence, lower costs, and a much clearer sense of direction.

This is the power of dual enrollment.

Now, you may be thinking my child is an anomaly because I run an education nonprofit. And in some ways, he is unique, just like all our children. The truth is that the research on dual enrollment is overwhelmingly positive for students across backgrounds and circumstances.

The research consistently shows that students who participate in dual enrollment are more likely to enroll in college, persist in college, complete credentials, and save money along the way.

According to Michigan Community College Association (MCCA):

• 93% of Michigan dual enrollment students pass their courses and earn college credit.

• Dual enrollment students are more likely to earn a 2-year degree on time, reducing costs and speeding up workforce entry.

• Nationally, dual enrollment students qualify for more in merit aid and scholarships, boosting college affordability even further.

As someone trained in rigorous quantitative and qualitative research methods, I can tell you that it is often difficult in education to isolate the impact of a single strategy or intervention. Student outcomes are influenced by countless factors, making strong causal evidence challenging. But dual enrollment stands out as one of the clearest evidence-based strategies we have for improving postsecondary success

We know that education beyond high school is increasingly necessary in today’s economy. That does not mean every student needs the same path or the same degree. But every student does need access to meaningful postsecondary training and credentials, whether that is a registered apprenticeship, an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, or another industry-recognized credential.

Dual enrollment helps students get there.

It lowers costs for families. It helps students build confidence and focus. It exposes them to college-level expectations while they still have the supports of high school. And it allows students to begin their postsecondary journey already moving toward a goal.

Michigan has an opportunity right now to expand access to dual enrollment through investments in the state budget, and that is an important first step. But we also need to modernize and improve our policies so that access is more equitable and more student-centered. Right now, the system is still too confusing and too difficult for many students and families to navigate.

Learn more about the policy positions we support here.

And if you are a parent or a high school student, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to explore dual enrollment opportunities available to you. It is one of the most powerful opportunities we can offer young people, and it can truly change the trajectory of their lives.