I know that top universities want you to load up on APs, and they only take dual enrollment credits if the credits are not used to fulfill high school graduation requirements. But are there any top private universities that take/like dual enrollment credits?
Depends on your definition of top universities. Many large publics will accept DE credits but it is highly variable which are accepted. My daughter’s school had a lengthy review process before the DE credits transferred. In my opinion, it’s not usually something you can count on.
That’s 2 different questions.
All top schools like DE for course rigor, although personally, if the options are AP vs. DE for the same class, opt for AP because the course rigor is fairly consistent across schools, which cannot be said for DE. When there is no AP equivalent, e.g. multivariable calc, then DE is fine.
In terms of actually getting credit from a top private college for DE, whether the credits were used for HS graduation requirements or not, I think you’ll be hard pressed to find one, although I’m sure someone here will have an example. But, depending on the subject and/or college, they may have an internal exam that will allow you to waive the class even if you don’t get credit.
OP specified private colleges/universities.
Remember that any credit on entrance (AP, IB, or college / dual enrollment) can come in one or more of three types:
A. Credit units toward the number required to graduate, or attain higher class standing (e.g. starting college as a “sophomore” if you have large amounts of credit coming in).
B. Subject credit that can be used for a particular subject requirement.
C. Placement into higher level courses by allowing skipping the introductory level course.
A given AP, IB, or college course taken while in high school to a given college that you matriculate to may get none, one, two, or all three of the above. There is no general rule here; you have to check each college’s policy (and sometimes the departments of your possible majors).
If you are interested in B and C above, but the college you may matriculate to does not have transfer credit listings for the college you take courses at before matriculation, be sure to keep syllabi and course materials for those courses so that the college you may matriculate to can evaluate it.
If you are pre-med or pre-law, be aware that college courses taken while in high school and their grades will count when applying to medical and law schools, even if they have no effect on credit, placement, or GPA at the college you matriculate to.