Florida leads the nation in college completion by students who take advantage of dual enrollment, according to a new study from the Community College Research Center.
Dual enrollment enables students to enroll in college courses that also count toward their high school diplomas.
The study tracked more than 200,000 high school students nationally who took at least one community college course in the fall of 2010.
It found 88 percent of those students continued in college after high school. Most ended up earning a degree or certificate or transferred from a two-year college to four-year college within five years.
The state Department of Education announced the study in a press release. It noted the study showed in the fall of 2010 dual enrollment students accounted for 15 percent of all new students in Florida’s community colleges.
The report also showed 75 percent of Florida’s dual-enrolled students first enrolled at a four-year college after high school and completed a college credential in five years. That is in comparison to the national average of 64 percent.
Among those who first enrolled a community college after high school, 64 percent completed a credential in five years, compared to 46 percent nationally, according to the report.
In a statement, Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said dual enrollment improves college access.
“Dual enrollment helps students get a glimpse into the college experience while earning college or career credits at no cost during high school,” she said. “This can save students and their families a significant amount of money, reducing a common barrier to higher education.”
