How does transferring credit work for dual enrollment students?

Applying to College
1

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I notice that a large majority of prestigious universities do not accept college credit earned through the dual enrollment program. If the student completes an Associate’s degree through dual enrollment, are these credits still unable to be transferred? If the student earned more than the minimum 60 credits for the AS degree, will the credits earned past this 60 be disregarded during the transfer process, or are all the courses on the college transcript “fair game?”

2

Each college will have its own transfer credit policy. You need to look up each college’s web site or ask the college directly.

Note that there may be differences between the following with respect to transferred college courses:

A. Credit units. E.g. will that 4 credit calculus 2 course give you 4 credits toward the 120 credits needed to graduate?
B. Subject credit. E.g. will that 4 credit calculus 2 course count as fulfilling calculus 2 if you need it for your major?
C. Advanced placement. E.g. will that 4 credit calculus 2 course allow you to take courses which require calculus 2 as a prerequisite, such as calculus 3?

For transfer credit, a college may give some, all, or none of the above. B and C may also vary be department or major.

AP and IB credit may also vary in a similar fashion.

3

You have to look at each schools policy. Some may accept none if they are used for HS credit. Some may accept some based upon what you took and where you took it. I believe there are some schools that take no transfer credits from anywhere.

4

Confirm with your GC, but if transferring DE credits is important to you, strongly consider state schools, especially those in your own state.

DD’s DE and AP credits are guaranteed to transfer to any state college in-state. YMMV. If she attends a private school or OOS college, then all bets are off because it is going to depend on the college.

Even if those OOS and private schools don’t give DE credit, they may still exempt you from basic requirements (so you can either take more electives or make room for a second major or minor instead). You’ll have to check each college’s policy.

5

I think people do dual enrollment for two purposes:

  1. To take more advanced classes. In this case, then apply to colleges you are interested in. You may not get that much credit, but you will be advanced in the classes you take.

  2. To get free college. In this case, really focus on your state schools to get the most out of those credits.