Get a Headstart on Your College Education with Dual Enrollment Programs

If you’re a motivated and determined high school student starting to think about your college education, you may wonder how you can get a head start. One great way to do this is by enrolling in a Maricopa Community College dual enrollment program. 

Benefits of Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college classes and earn credits that count toward their high school diploma and college degree or certificate and prepare them to enter the workforce. Not only can dual enrollment help reduce the amount of time it takes to complete the degree of your choosing, but it will also certainly save you money on tuition and textbook fees. Additionally, with dual enrollment, you’ll be able to gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in your chosen field and start building your network.

Most importantly, dual enrollment is convenient, embedded in the school day, and taught by high school teachers. So you don’t need to travel to a college campus to participate in the program.

Course Selection

Dual enrollment is a fantastic opportunity to explore college-level curricula and covers a wide variety of subject areas, from English and math to science or history. You can even take world languages, including Spanish or French, and other elective courses. Please check with your high school guidance counselor to see what course options are available.

As a dual enrollment student, you’ll build knowledge and gain experience with college-level material before setting foot in a post-secondary institution. 

Tuition

Maricopa Community Colleges is an affordable and accessible option for students who want to pursue higher education. Maricopa County residents only pay a fraction of what it would cost to attend Arizona universities. And as a bonus, your high school pays for the required textbooks. That means you’re not incurring additional textbook costs to get ahead.

Tuition assistance may be available for students whose parents demonstrate a financial need as defined by the U.S. Department of Health Services. However, funding is limited and awarded on a first-come-first-served basis. So, it’s important to check the application deadline and submit it ahead of time.

Enroll 

Now that you have all the dual enrollment information, it’s time to make an appointment with your high school college and career counselor to set the plan in motion. The next steps include the following:

• Get admitted by completing the online admissions application and setting up your student account.
• Complete the Next Steps by finishing any remaining enrollment items, including by finishing any remaining enrollment items, including submitting an acceptable form of identification, documentation to determine course placement, and parent/legal guardian consent. 
• Register for classes using the five-digit class number based on the High School/Instructor/Subject/Class Period.
• Make payment arrangements to pay your tuition and fees or set up a payment plan.

Transfer Credits 

Best of all, dual enrollment credits are transferable to Arizona public colleges and universities. It’s also important to know that most colleges and universities accept dual enrollment credit as a regionally accredited college credit. Before enrolling, you should check transferability and course applicability with your intended college and university. You can also request transcripts for a nominal fee.

Maricopa Community Colleges’ dual enrollment program is a great way for high school students to start their college education. With affordable tuition, financial assistance, and no extra costs for textbooks, there’s no reason not to take advantage of this opportunity. So, take the next step, enroll now, and get started on your path to success. Learn more about dual enrollment.