Frequently Asked Questions: Dual Enrollment

Why choose dual enrollment?

We believe there are academic and financial benefits for offering students college courses while they are in high school. Academically, college courses serve to challenge college-bound students with courses that reflect the college experience while maintaining the support system found during high school. Financially, with the rising costs of higher education, families are looking for ways to save money. 

What is the cost of a dual-enrollment class?

The price per 3-credit course can range from $150 to $450. A comparable cost per 3-credit course taken as a freshman in college is between $1,500-2,000. Families can save between 60% and 90% by taking dual-enrollment courses in high school. If a student were to take 30 college credits while still in high school, that student would eliminate a huge percentage of the cost of a year at college. At an average of $300 per dual-enrollment class, 30 credits would cost approximately $3,000. Even at a state school, a freshman year at college could cost up to $25,000 (tuition, fees, meals, room). There is no deduction on your CVCS bill, but the savings you will experience in the long run will be beneficial.

Will credits transfer?

The best answer is “Yes, most likely.” Students will be able to request a transcript from each college they take a dual-enrollment class through and have the credits transferred to the college or university they choose to attend. As with any transfer, colleges and universities may restrict which courses they will accept. We counsel students to take more easily transferable general education or elective credits as dual-enrollment classes. 

What is the difference between a dual-enrollment class and an AP (Advanced Placement) class?

CVCS offers AP classes through Virtual Learning Network (VLN). Some students may want to take AP classes because they “look good” on a transcript. However, in order to gain college credit for an AP test, a student must score a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP test, and some colleges will grant credits for only a 5 in certain subjects and a 4 or 5 in others. In a dual-enrollment class, if you pass the class with an A, B or C, you earn the college credit.

What does CVCS offer?

This is outlined on the Dual Enrollment Fact Sheet.

Other information

• REGISTRATION: Normally, only juniors and seniors are permitted by colleges to take dual-enrollment courses. Students must register through the college.
• GRADES: Policies vary among colleges. Of course, any dual-enrollment class you take on our campus, you will be able to access grades through FACTS. Once we receive the official grade from the college, we will enter it onto the student’s high school transcript.
• WORKLOAD: The grading scale for college classes may vary from college to college. The assessment tools (tests, projects, papers, etc.) and workload will also vary.
• TEXTBOOKS: You will have to find whatever textbooks are required. You can find some books at the library or online, but you will have to purchase or rent some books. Textbooks are supplied for the classes taught at CVCS.
• INSTRUCTION: There are two types of virtual dual-enrollment classes: Synchronous and Asynchronous. Synchronous means that instruction is live and the student must be available at the time the class is occurring. Asynchronous means that instruction is not live. The teacher is not virtually with the student every day but is available by email to answer questions and may post office hours. Students can also take a class on a college campus as long as it doesn’t interfere with their CVCS class schedule.
• STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY: Dual Enrollment requires a self-motivated student. Most colleges will not directly work with parents; therefore, the responsibility to keep up with classwork and turn in assignments on time lies with the student. Additionally, many college professors will not accept late work, even if it is submitted one second after the deadline.
• CREDITS: College courses run in semesters (Aug.-Dec. & Jan.-May). Most online college courses run anywhere from 8 weeks to 18 weeks. Because college courses run half a school year, college courses count for half of a high school credit.
• DROPPING A CLASS: Colleges often give a student a certain amount of time to drop a class; if the class is not dropped by the “drop” deadline, you may lose a portion or all of your money.