Dual Enrollment in Virginia

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What is Dual Enrollment?

Dual Enrollment is a program that allows high school students to take college-level courses at a participating Virginia college or university. These courses count toward both your high school diploma and college degree. Imagine walking across your high school graduation stage with college credits already under your belt – that's the power of Dual Enrollment.

Why Choose Dual Enrollment?

Save Money - Dual Enrollment courses are typically offered at a reduced cost or even for free, saving you and your family thousands of dollars in college expenses.
Get Ahead - By taking college-level courses now, you can graduate from college faster and jumpstart your career sooner.
Explore Interests - Dual Enrollment lets you explore different subjects and majors before committing to a specific career path.
Smooth Transition - When you transition to college full-time, you'll already be familiar with the campus environment, course expectations, and college-level work.

How Does It Work?

Talk to Your Counselor - Start by discussing Dual Enrollment options with your high school counselor. They can guide you through the process and help you select courses that align with your interests and career goals.
Choose a College - Virginia has a network of participating colleges and universities. Select one that offers the courses you want to take. Remember, all courses must be pre-approved for dual enrollment.
Meet Requirements - Each institution may have specific admission requirements, such as minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) or standardized test scores. Make sure you meet these criteria.
Register for Classes - Once admitted, you'll register for college courses alongside your high school classes.
Complete the Courses - Attend classes, complete assignments, and take exams as you would in any college course.
Earn Credit - Successfully completing your Dual Enrollment courses means you'll earn college credits that can be transferred to most colleges and universities across the country.

Important Considerations

Eligibility - Dual Enrollment is open to high school students in ninth through twelfth grade who meet the admission requirements of the participating college or university.
Balancing Act - Keep in mind that college-level courses can be more challenging than high school classes. Time management and study skills are crucial.
Transferring Credits - While most colleges accept Dual Enrollment credits, it's essential to verify the transferability of credits with your chosen college.

Navigating dual enrollment and college-level coursework can be a journey on its own. Dual enrollment is supported by the following initiatives and programs:

Virtual Virginia - Among its various educational offerings, Virtual Virginia (VVA) offers online Advanced Placement (AP) courses to students throughout the Commonwealth allowing students to take college-level course work while still in high school.

Transfer Virginia - began in 2018 with legislation addressing transfer policies. Through collaboration from the Commonwealth's two- and four-year colleges and universities, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), and the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, Transfer Virginia is an initiative to provide transparency and access throughout the college transfer process. You can research, plan, and organize your transfer journey using the information and resources available within this portal from Virginia's institutions.

Recognition as an Early College Scholar

The Early College Scholars program allows eligible public high school students to earn a minimum of 15 transferable college credits while fulfilling the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma. The result? A more productive senior year in high school and significant savings on college tuition costs. By completing a college degree in just seven semesters instead of the traditional eight, students can save an average of $5,000 in expenses.

To qualify for this program, you'll need to meet these criteria:

Maintain a "B" average or better in your high school courses; and
Be pursuing an Advanced Studies Diploma; and
Successfully complete college-level coursework, such as AP, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge, or dual enrollment, to earn at least 15 transferable college credits.

To formalize your participation, you'll sign an Governor's Early College Scholars Agreement, which will also be signed by your parents or guardians, principal, and school counselor. Once you meet the program's criteria, you will be recognized as an Early College Scholar. This certificate acknowledges your commitment to excellence and your dedication to shaping a promising future.

School Divisions can print the Early College Scholars certificates on-site through the Single Sign-On for Web Systems (SSWS). The certificate generator uses data from the Spring Student Record Collection (SRC) to prepare the certificates. For more information, see Early College Scholars Certificate Process and Procedures.

Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies Programs (UCGS)-supports the Early College Scholars program by providing a set of academic courses that fully transfer as core requirements and degree credits at Virginia colleges and universities. More information on the Commonwealth College Course Collaborative and the participating institutions is available through the Transfer Virginia Portal.

Contact Information

For more information about Early College Scholars, please contact Brittany Everett at (804) 750-8128.

Division Resources

In 2008, a revised agreement known as the "Virginia Plan for Dual Enrollment" was established. This statewide framework allows public schools and community colleges to collaborate in three ways:

High school students can join regular college credit courses at the community college.
Specially scheduled college credit courses exclusively for high school students can be conducted at the high school.
Specially scheduled college credit courses exclusively for high school students can be taught at the community college.

The agreements listed below sets guidelines for student eligibility, admissions, course eligibility, accreditation standards, credit awards, faculty selection, tuition, fees, assessment, and evaluation.

Dual Enrollment Guide for Students and Families

VDOE - VCCS Course Pairings for Dual Enrollment Coordinators, Instructors, and Administrators

Dual Enrollment Flyer for Distribution to Students