What Are Dual Enrollment Programs?
Every high schooler should know about dual enrollment programs. Why? Looking into these programs can greatly alter the career path of any student before they even graduate high school and begin their college life. College Funding of Tampa Bay is here to explain how.
Dual Enrollment Programs Are a Gateway into College
The idea of starting college can be stressful to the typical high school student. They may be worried about what to expect or stress out about doing well enough to pass their college courses. Dual enrollment programs act as a trial run to help them ease into the increased difficulty of college classes while having it count towards their credit requirements. The idea of getting a head start on getting a college degree before even graduating high school is enticing to those who desire success in their future career. It can even instill motivation in those who are unsure about exactly what they want to do after graduating high school.
Are There Requirements?
Each state has its own unique set of requirements concerning dual enrollment courses, but Florida’s rules are pretty simple. For high school students in Florida, all you need to do to gain access to dual enrollment is to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Chances are, any student willing to put in the extra work to get an early start on college is doing well enough in their studies to meet this stipulation. In fact, over 40,000 Floridian students participate in this program each year!
Does It Save Money?
There are a handful of ways dual enrollment programs could potentially save you money. Depending on the area of interest, courses in these programs can range anywhere from being completely free to costing up to $400 which may still be cheaper than enrolling in a similar class under normal circumstances. And by completing these units early, that means less classes that need to be taken and paid for later on.
If you’re lucky, some of the courses offered in dual enrollment programs can be covered by either the school or state. If you’ve invested in a 529 plan, that money could also be used for these courses.
Other Benefits to a Dual Enrollment Program
Other than getting a running start into college, why else might a high school student be interested in a dual enrollment program? Sometimes, these programs offer courses that provide a vastly different selection from what’s available at the high school. Also, trying out such courses in this program is a great way to sample a career path before fully committing to it later on when it may be harder for you to change your mind.
Seek Advice from College Funding of Tampa Bay!
If you’re curious about dual enrollment programs but aren’t sure where to start or what to expect, the financial advisors at College Funding of Tampa Bay can answer all of your questions and suggest a plan for success. We’ve been assisting students in Florida with outstanding results for many years! Call (813) 755-6834 to schedule a free consultation and get started on earning a higher education.
