Dual Enrollment

The Dual Enrollment Process for Columbia High School

If you are interested in participating in dual enrollment courses, you must first schedule a meeting with your School Counselor.

See the document below for more information.

*If you do not complete all steps required, you will not receive high school credit*

Proof of Enrollment Form

Final Grade Submission Form

Dual Enrollment Procedures.pdf

Dual Enrollment Partners

Elizabethtown College

Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) - Lancaster Campus

Millersville University

St. Josephs University of PA - Lancaster Campus

Pennsylvania College of Art & Design

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

**Slightly different than the other dual enrollment offerings.

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology allows SENIOR students to attend as a full-time freshman during their high school year and earn 36 credits in program of study.

Thaddeus Stevens Early Enrollment Application

Visit the linked site for more information

Early EnrollmentOn The Path To A Great Career The Early Enrollment program offers qualifying high school seniors the opportunity to complete their freshman year at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology at the same t

What is the point of dual enrollment?

Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college classes while they are still enrolled in high school. These classes count for both high school and college credit. High school students who complete dual-enrollment classes generally take fewer classes in college and save money on total college costs.

Why Should I Consider Dual Enrollment?

There are several reasons why high school students should work with their parents and school to participate in dual enrollment programs. These benefits include:

Getting multiple credits either at a reduced cost or free, depending upon state programs
Save money on tuition costs, which will reduce total student debt for college grads
Allow economically disadvantaged students the opportunity to take college level courses through state programs-- an opportunity they might not otherwise have
The college classes high school students take may transfer to higher education institutions, depending upon the school
High school students who complete college classes that are accepted for graduation requirements could graduate early and get a head start in beginning their careers
Many college classes are offered online, so if the college or university you are interested in is not within driving distance, you can still take their classes

However, there can be some drawbacks to participating in dual enrollment programs:

Students who are heavily involved in athletics or other extracurricular activities may find they don't have enough time to do well in college courses
Not completing, or getting a poor grade in an advanced courses are part of the high school transcript; this could negatively impact the student's ability to get accepted at the college of her choice
Depending upon the college the student choose to attend AFTER high school, dual enrollment courses may not be accepted for credit; without doing some research into the courses and the schools a student wants to attend, this could end up wasting time taking classes that won't count

How Hard Are Dual Enrollment Courses?

If you already have completed challenging high school courses, you should feel confident about tackling college class work for dual enrollment purposes. However, unlike high school, where you go to class everyday, most college and university courses only meet once or twice a week. In between times, you are expected to read and understand large amounts of textbook content, so you'll need to budget time during the day and evening to keep up with the course pace.

If the textbook is hard to understand, you will need to make time to email or call the professor, or find a tutor to help you. Tutoring can cost extra money, so consider how you would accomplish this.

Another consideration for college courses is that you may have fewer projects to complete, but each one has a large percentage of your final grade. If you miss one major assignment, this could cause you to fail the class. This is not to discourage you from participating, but be realistic in your time and expectations.

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