Dual enrollment can be a powerful strategy for addressing equity gaps in college enrollment and completion rates, but Black, Latino, and low-income students still struggle to access it, according to a national report released by the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University. The report, which followed students from 2015 through 2021, shows that while California students are as likely as students nationwide to enroll in college after high school, they are less likely to complete a college degree within four years.
The report highlights the need for dual enrollment programs to offer both access and support to ensure student success. California’s Black, Latino, and low-income students in dual enrollment programs lag behind their counterparts in college-going rates and completion rates, but they are more likely to succeed after high school compared to non-dual enrollment students.
In California, Black and Latino students who participated in dual enrollment were more likely to attain a bachelor’s degree compared to those who did not participate. However, Black students are underrepresented in dual enrollment nationally, but those who do enroll are more likely to attend four-year colleges, enroll in selective colleges, and major in STEM fields.
The report emphasizes the need to address access issues for Black students in dual enrollment programs and increase support to improve postsecondary access and attainment. Policies such as charging for classes and requiring certain test scores can limit access to dual enrollment for students who could benefit the most.
California heavily relies on community colleges for dual enrollment, with 87% of dually enrolled students taking classes through community colleges compared to 72% nationally. Students who participated in dual enrollment courses in California were more likely to continue at a community college after high school.
Dual enrollment programs offered by four-year universities tend to have better outcomes, but they often under-enroll Black, Latino, and low-income students. The study began following students in 2015, the same year California passed the College and Career Pathways Act, which aimed to expand access to college courses for high school students through dual enrollment.
Despite the growth of dual enrollment in California since 2015, access issues for Black, Latino, and low-income students persist. An analysis by EdSource in 2022 found that Black and Latino students are underrepresented in dual enrollment classes.