What Is Dual Enrollment?

Dual Enrollment is an enrichment opportunity that allows high school/home schooled students to earn college credits for courses taken through NOVA while still being enrolled in high school. As a dual-enrolled student, you are enrolled in both high school (or home school) and NOVA.

NOVA’s Dual Enrollment program is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment and Partnerships (NACEP). NOVA is the only institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth of Virginia to hold this distinction.

Who Can Take Dual Enrollment classes?

High school juniors and seniors or the home-schooled equivalent are eligible to participate in dual enrollment classes. In order to take these courses, you must demonstrate competence in reading, writing and math.

VCCS policy allows colleges to consider exceptional freshman and sophomore students who demonstrate readiness for college-level coursework through the colleges’ established institutional policies. Each underclass student will be considered on a case-by-case basis. See the enrollment section or the Dual Enrollment Manual for specific information.

Benefits of Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment can provide students an opportunity to enhance their education by enrolling early in college courses. This allows students to progress toward their next academic goal without having to wait until high school graduation. Studies show that students who acquire college credits while still in high school are more likely to graduate from high school and continue their formal education.

In addition, dual enrollment:

• Allows students to receive high school and college credit simultaneously.
• Can eliminate the duplication of courses taken in high school and in college.
• Permits students to accumulate credits prior to entering college so they can be able to graduate from college early or on time.
• Provides students with a wider range of courses giving them an opportunity to complete general education courses required at most colleges and also allows them to explore different fields before declaring a major.
• Facilitates a seamless transition from high school to college. Students can get a taste of what college is like without being overwhelmed by a new environment. They can experience how their high school classes compare to college courses and how college professors differ from high school teachers.
• Engages students by enhancing student learning throughout the senior year of high school.
• Can lower the cost of a post-secondary education.

Delivery Options and Locations of Dual Enrollment Classes

Students can take Dual Enrollment classes at a NOVA campus, through NOVA Online or at certain high schools.

Dual Enrollment Facts

• Credits you take as a dual enrollment student can transfer to four-year colleges.
• Taking NOVA courses as a dual enrollment student can save you time and money when completing a Bachelor’s degree.
• NOVA offers dual enrollment classes in many area high schools.
• Dual enrollment students can complete a certificate or associate degree while still in high school.
• Dual enrollment students can work toward a transferable General Education Certificate.

What People Are Saying About Dual Enrollment

“NOVA’s DE has been the cornerstone to my son’s accelerated academic progress and more importantly to his sense of self as a competent contributing member of society. The NOVA courses challenged him to succeed beyond high school, during high school.” —Arlington Parent

“My son is double majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, minoring in Mathematics. All of this is possible for him to accomplish because of the 31 Dual Enrollment credits he received from NOVA, most of which transferred successfully to Virginia Tech. His three AP classes (AP/BC Calculus, AP Computer Science, and AP Physics) also helped him to start at Virginia Tech as a 2nd semester sophomore with 45 credits. That directly translates into three semesters of tuition, fees and housing expenses.” —Arlington Parent

Student Spotlight