Dual-Enrollment Students Need More Support

"Dual enrollment—the practice of allowing high school students to also earn college credit—has become an increasingly common strategy for improving college and career pathways. But many students take courses that are not connected to a clear academic or workforce trajectory, and they often lack access to the advising needed to help guide their next steps."

"The analysis included interviews with 89 students and six administrators from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida State University, Florida International University and the University of South Florida during the summer 2024, fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters. The study found that most students felt academically prepared for college, with some saying their college coursework felt easier than classes they had taken in high school."

"And it showed that accelerated pathways helped reduce college costs and shorten the time to a degree. But the findings also pointed to a need for stronger alignment, advising and institutional support to help students fully benefit from the college experience."

""It's not enough to just dump these students onto a four-year campus and expect them to be successful because they have been already," Park-Gaghan said. "We had some students tell us that by the time they got to college-level coursework, it felt super easy because they were already used to accelerated coursework. Other students said, 'Wow, the""

Dual enrollment and other accelerated pathways allow high school students to earn college credit and are increasingly used to improve college and career pathways. Many students, however, take courses that do not connect to a clear academic or workforce trajectory and often lack advising to guide next steps. A qualitative study examined how Florida students with advanced credits from dual enrollment, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate experience college after arrival on campus. Interviews with 89 students and six administrators at four Florida universities found most students felt academically prepared, and some found college coursework easier than high school. Accelerated pathways reduced college costs and shortened time to a degree, while also indicating a need for stronger alignment, advising, and institutional support.

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