Georgia’s Dual Enrollment program allows high school students, grades 9 through 12, to enroll in college courses and earn college credit while in high school.  Students and their families do not pay for tuition, fees or books. They are only responsible for course-related fees and transportation. The program has operated in various forms since the early 1990s. In 2016, Georgia reshaped the program, then titled “Move On When Ready.” Now known as Dual Enrollment, program growth continues to demand more funding.

Quick Facts on Dual Enrollment

Who participates in Dual Enrollment?

• In Fall 2018, about 12,000 high school students enrolled in University System of Georgia courses, 25,000 enrolled in Technical College System of Georgia courses^[1] and 5,000 students enrolled in private colleges.^[2]
• Data from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement show that male, black, Hispanic and low-income students were underrepresented in pre-2016 Dual Enrollment programs.^[3]

What and how many courses are Dual Enrollment participants taking?

• Most Dual Enrollment credit hours (76 percent) are in core subject areas like English, Language Arts or math. A smaller percentage (24 percent) are technical or other fields.^[4]
• Dual Enrollment students take an average of 12.7 credit hours, or about four courses. The median number of credit hours per term is six hours, or two courses.^[5]

When can you take Dual Enrollment courses?

• Students can take Dual Enrollment courses year-round, including the summer term.

Where do students take Dual Enrollment?

• Forty-six percent of Dual Enrollment credit hours are taken in technical colleges, 32 percent in the university system and 22 percent at independent colleges.^[6]
• Students can take Dual Enrollment courses at a college, high school campus or online. Most courses are at a college campus (77 percent), 14 percent at a high school campus and 9 percent online.^[7]
• High school teachers credentialed for college-level coursework can teach Dual Enrollment courses.

How do students participate?

• Colleges set eligibility requirements and may include grades and scores on exams like the SAT, ACT or Accuplacer. Eligibility criteria vary by college and sometimes by course.
• Admissions requirements for Dual Enrollment students can differ from requirements for traditional college freshmen.

Dual Enrollment Funding

Georgia supports Dual Enrollment through direct funding to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for tuition payments and enrollment-based formula funding for public high schools and colleges.

• The Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) administers Dual Enrollment and manages the funding appropriated each year. GSFC provides tuition payments to colleges for participating high school students.
• The state’s Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula for public K-12 schools includes Dual Enrollment participants, so high schools do not lose funding if a student takes Dual Enrollment classes.
• University and technical college system funding formulas include Dual Enrollment credit hours.
• The Department of Audits and Accounts estimated that though the appropriation for Dual Enrollment was $79 million in fiscal year 2018, total state support was $199 million including formula funds for public K-12 schools, the university and technical college systems.^[8]
• More students are participating and program costs have grown. The proposed 2020 state budget allocates the program $108 million, up from $49 million in 2016.

Dual Enrollment and HOPE Eligibility

• GSFC includes grades for core academic courses taken through Dual Enrollment (e.g. English Language Arts) in GPA calculations for HOPE eligibility,
• Dual Enrollment core courses meet academic rigor requirements for HOPE eligibility, similar to Advanced Placement courses.
• College credit hours earned through Dual Enrollment do not count against the award limit of 127 semester hours for HOPE Scholarships or 63 semester hours for HOPE Grants.

Recent Program Updates and Pending Changes

• In the 2017-2018 academic year, Georgia cut high school transportation grants that help participants get to college campuses.
• The 2019 budged capped Dual Enrollment to 15 credit hours per student per semester.
• The proposed 2020 budget includes language to restrict Dual Enrollment to 11^th and 12^th[9]
• Recent discussions propose limiting summer Dual Enrollment courses.

Note: All information accurate as of February 26, 2019. The General Assembly is currently debating changes to Dual Enrollment, and we will update as these changes progress.

End Notes

[1] University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia data.

[2] Georgia Independent College Association data

[3] Rauschenberg, S., & Chalasani, K. (Nov 2017). Georgia dual enrollment and postsecondary outcomes. The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.

[4] Georgia Student Finance Commission data.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts. (Jan 2018). Dual enrollment: Special examination report no. 17-09.

[9] From 1992-2004, the Postsecondary Options program was limited to 11th and 12th graders and funded through school districts’ QBE funds. In 2004, the lottery-funded Accel program replaced Postsecondary Options and was available for 9th-12th graders.