Education Commission of the States Reports

This database indicates the types of postsecondary institutions that may accept dual enrollment students.

Where a response states "both," it denotes that all public two- and four-year institutions may (or must) accept dual enrollment students. If only select public institutions may participate in dual enrollment programs, or if additional institutions (private, proprietary, tribal, etc.) may accept dual enrollment students, that information is noted as well.

Why does it matter?

Including four-year institutions increases the likelihood that credits will be accepted should a student choose to transfer into a four-year program.

Including two-year institutions increases the geographical availability of dual enrollment programs, and can lessen the intimidation factor for some students.

Highlights

Five states allow only two-year public postsecondary institutions to participate in dual enrollment programs.

Thirty-nine states allow two- and four-year postsecondary institutions to accept dual enrollment students.

One state provides that two-year public postsecondary institutions are allowed to participate in dual enrollment programs, and that only select public four-year institutions may individually determine whether or not to accept dual enrollment students.

No state allows only four-year institutions to participate in dual enrollment programs.

In five states, state policy does not address the types of institutions that may accept dual enrollment students.

Twenty-three states allow nonpublic, proprietary or tribal colleges to participate in dual enrollment programs.

Note: This database does not include information about Tech Prep or early/middle college high school programs. Information about such programs is included in the ECS career/technical education and early/middle college high school databases.

Sources for all data points are accessible through this link.

Methodology: This information was collected from state statutes, rules and regulations, and state education agency Web sites, and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

Last updated: December 2, 2008

This database was compiled by Jennifer Dounay, project manager, ECS High School Policy Center. For questions, additions or corrections: 303.299.3689 or jdounay@ecs.org.

	College partners can be 2-year/4-year/both
Alabama	Both
Alaska	Not set in state policy
Arizona	Two-year
Arkansas	Both
California	Both
Colorado	Both. Independent area vocational schools, all junior college district colleges, and all nonpublic institutions of higher education may also participate in Postsecondary Enrollment Options. (Fast Track does not specify beyond "accredited state institution of higher education.")
Connecticut	Two-year
Delaware	Both. Regionally accredited private institutions may also participate.
District of Columbia	Not set in district policy
Florida	Both. Private colleges and universities may also participate.
Georgia	Both. In addition, students living more than 25 miles from a degree-granting public college or university may attend courses at any two- or four-year regionally accredited degree-granting nonproprietary college or university. Private, nonprofit, accredited institutions and proprietary institutions may participate in the Accel program.
Hawaii	Both
Idaho	Both. Private two- and four-year institutions, and accredited private trade and technical schools may also participate.
Illinois	Two-year
Indiana	Both (for Postsecondary Enrollment, Double Up and Fast Track to College). Accredited private colleges and universities may also participate in the Postsecondary Enrollment Program.
Iowa	Both. Accredited private institutions may also participate.
Kansas	Both. Accredited independent institutions may also participate.
Kentucky	Both. Independent institutions may also participate. Data collected by the Council on Postsecondary Education indicate dual enrollment participation levels at two-year, four-year and independent institutions from 2001 to 2007.
Louisiana	TOPS-TECH Early Start Award, Early Start and traditional dual enrollment: Both. Independent institutions may also participate in Early Start.
Maine	Both. The Maine Maritime Academy may also participate.
Maryland	Two-year
Massachusetts	Both
Michigan	Both programs: Both. Tribal colleges and independent nonprofit colleges and universities may also participate.
Minnesota	Both. Private two- and four-year institutions and private nonprofit two-year trade and technical schools and accredited opportunities industrialization centers may also participate.
Mississippi	Both
Missouri	Both. Private colleges and universities may also participate.
Montana	Both
Nebraska	Both. Nonprofit private postsecondary educational institutions may also offer distance education dual enrollment courses.
Nevada	Both
New Hampshire	Not set in state policy
New Jersey	Both. Nonpublic two- and four-year institutions may also participate.
New Mexico	Both
New York	Not set in state policy
North Carolina	Two-year
North Dakota	Both. Courses may be offered by any postsecondary institution accredited by a regional accrediting organization; career/technical courses may be offered by a postsecondary institution in a program accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization recognized by the United States department of education.
Ohio	Both. Post-Secondary Enrollment Options: Private and for-profit two- and four-year institutions may also participate. Seniors to Sophomores: The district must have a University System of Ohio (USO) partner. If the district has a USO partner, it can also have private college and university partners, but it is not permitted to have only private college or university partners.
Oklahoma	Both
Oregon	Both, plus the Oregon Health and Science University
Pennsylvania	Both. Private two- and four-year institutions, and private licensed schools may also participate.
Rhode Island	Not set in state policy
South Carolina	Both
South Dakota	Both
Tennessee	Both
Texas	Both
Utah	Both
Vermont	VSC Dual Enrollment Program: Both. Non-VSC entities (i.e., private institutions) that sign a memorandum of understanding may also participate. Technical program: Two-year (students may enroll only in technical courses).
Virginia	Not set in state policy. Historically, Virginia’s community colleges have been the primary provider of dual enrollment courses, with very few public 4-year institutions offering dual enrollment in targeted areas.
Washington	Two-year and select four-year institutions if the governing board decides to participate (Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Washington State University, and The Evergreen State College). Accredited tribal colleges may also participate.
West Virginia	Both
Wisconsin	Both. Private, nonprofit institutions and tribal colleges may also participate.
Wyoming	Both