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Students and Parents

What is Dual Enrollment?

Dual Enrollment allows you take college-level classes with College of the Desert at your high school, earning both high school and college credits at the same time.

Why Should You Enroll?

  • Get Ahead: Finish college courses early, saving time and money.
  • Free College Credits: Many courses are free, saving you on future tuition costs.
  • Be Prepared: Get a taste of college life and coursework to ease your transition after high school.
  • More Choices: Access classes and subjects not available at your high school.
  • Explore Careers: Try different fields of study to help decide your future career path.

Things to Consider:

  • More Work: College classes can be challenging and require good time-management skills.
  • Increased Workload: College courses may be more rigorous and demanding, requiring strong time-management skills.
  • Impact on High School Experience: Balancing college and high school responsibilities may affect participation in high school activities.
  • Academic Performance: Poor performance in dual enrollment courses can affect both high school and college transcripts.
  • Busy Schedule: Balancing college and high school activities can be tough.
  • Grades Matter: Your performance affects both high school and college transcripts.

Financial Aid Considerations:

When students participate in Dual Enrollment, they are beginning their college journey early. With that opportunity comes some important responsibilities. The courses students take—along with the grades they earn and the decisions they make about enrollment—can have a lasting impact on their college record and future financial aid eligibility.

Our goal is not to discourage students from participating in Dual Enrollment, but to ensure that students, families, and high school staff understand the significance of the program and how to make informed choices. With the right support and planning, Dual Enrollment can be a powerful and positive step toward college success.

We encourage you to review our guide to financial aid considerations to better understand what this means and how to help students thrive in the program. You can also read the Financial Aid FAQs which includes an FAQ about dual enrollment.

Student FAQs

Dual Enrollment allows high school students to take college-level courses and earn both high school and college credit at the same time. You are considered a “special admit” student for the community college.

Students 9-12 are eligible to take courses. You must meet the prerequisites for the college course, you obtain approval from your high school (and parent/guardian) and the college. For CCAP partnerships, California Education Code § 76004 allows a limit of up to 15 units per term for a “special part-time student.”

No, tuition is covered by the State of California as long as you stay within the credit limit. Textbooks are provided by the school district.  

Yes, for the most part, the credits easily transfer within the state of California. Some exceptions are private schools. You must reach out to the school and understand their dual enrollment transfer policy.  

Because you’re taking college-level coursework, expectations (workload, rigor) may be higher; you’ll need to manage your schedule carefully. By signing up for a college course, you are starting a college transcript. 

You should be prepared for college-level work in terms of maturity, time-management, study habits. COD has resources available for students such as tutoring, library and counseling. Please visit our website.

Dropping or withdrawing can affect your high school and college records; it may show on your college transcript. Be sure you understand deadlines for withdrawal at the college. Also note that poor performance could affect your college admissions.

You will remain enrolled in high school and be a high school student, but you will also function as a college student. Students enrolled in Dual Enrollment will need to contact COD on their own if they have any questions related to COD including their class and account. You should not have your parents reach out to COD on your behalf. We are limited in what we can say to parents of college students, regardless of age.


Parent FAQs

Your child may gain access to college-level coursework, earn college credits "early", potentially lower college costs, develop college readiness, and finish college sooner. California’s strategic plan for community colleges envisions students completing 12 college units during high school.

Consider the following: good academic standing, readiness for independent study, maturity, ability to handle college schedule demands.

Tuition/enrollment fees may be waived under CCAP or special admission status as long as students stay within their credit limit.

Make sure the dual enrollment course counts for both high school graduation requirements and are transferable college credit. Work with your student on figuring out where they want to go to college after high school and research the institution's transfer policy for dual enrollment. 

Yes, they remain enrolled in high school. But they will also function as college students. Students enrolled in Dual Enrollment will need to contact COD on their own if they have any questions related to COD including their class and account. Parents should not reach out to COD on behalf of their student. Please help your students learn to advocate for themselves. We are limited in what we can say to parents of college students, regardless of age.

Because college courses follow college policies (including FERPA – privacy law for college students), you may need your child’s authorization to receive course information. Encourage your child to keep you in the loop, meet regularly with their high school counselor, and monitor both high school and college transcripts.

That college grade becomes part of their college transcript—it may affect future admissions, financial aid eligibility, or GPA calculation. Under California’s framework goal, dual enrollment is intended to help readiness, not penalize. But poor performance still carries consequences.

  1. Does the high school/college partnership exist, and is it under CCAP or another agreement? 
  2. Will the course count for high school graduation AND college transfer? 
  3. What are the deadlines for registration, drop, withdrawal, etc.? 
  4. Is there academic support (tutoring, counseling)? 
  5. How will this affect my child’s schedule, extracurriculars, and workload? 

Downloadable PDF version of Dual Enrollment FAQs.

 

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