Data Dive: Dual Enrollment’s Positive Impact on Higher Education

In February, the Clearinghouse published a blog post, Dual Enrollment: The Stories & Data Behind Student Success, on how dual enrollment positively impacts higher education outcomes. To recap, 71.1% of students with prior dual enrollment completed a credential within six years, compared to 57.2% of students without dual enrollment, according to the Yearly Progress and Completion Report, released in December 2025.

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Tracking Transfer Report, released in March 2026, also reveals notable differences between students with dual enrollment experience and first-time community college students without it. Here are a few key findings.

Higher Bachelor’s Completion Rates

One of the major differences is in who completes a bachelor’s degree. Students who begin community college with dual enrollment experience are more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree within six years. Among first-time community college students overall, 15.8% completed a bachelor’s degree, compared with 27.5% of those who entered with prior dual enrollment.

“Our research consistently shows that dual enrollment is more than an early start; it’s a strong on-ramp to student success in higher education,” said Matthew Holsapple, Senior Director of Research at the National Student Clearinghouse.

More Transfers to Four-Year Institutions

These differences are also evident in earlier pathways, particularly in transfer rates. For many community college students, transferring is a critical step toward a bachelor’s degree and students with prior dual enrollment experience make that transition at higher rates. Within six years, 45.4% of these students transferred to a four-year institution, compared with 31.6% of students without dual enrollment history. 

Stronger Outcomes After Transfer

The pattern continues after students transfer to a four-year institution. Among those who transferred, 58.6% of those with prior dual enrollment went on to complete a bachelor’s degree, while their counterparts only saw a 48.7% completion rate. Even after transferring, students with dual enrollment experience consistently reach the finish line at higher rates.

Beatrix Randolph, a Research Associate at the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, added, “Students who participate in dual enrollment are more likely to enroll in college, persist, and navigate transfer pathways more efficiently. These outcomes highlight the role dual enrollment can play in improving access, momentum, and continuity across the postsecondary ecosystem.”

Who Is Participating in Dual Enrollment?

Looking at who participates in dual enrollment reveals clear demographic differences from the broader first-time community college student population. In the 2018 entering community college cohort, 55.0% of dual enrollment students identified as White, compared with 38.6% of first-time students overall. Hispanic and Black students made up smaller shares of prior dual enrollment participants (20.9% and 7.8%, respectively) than of first-time students (24.8% and 13.8%). Gender differences exist, with women comprising 55.9% of prior dual enrollment participants versus 49.4% of first-time students. These patterns may suggest that access to and interest in dual enrollment programs potentially vary across demographic groups for those students who start their higher education at a community college.

What the Data Shows

The recent findings from the Yearly Progress and Completion Report and the Tracking Transfer Report highlight the benefits of prior dual enrollment experience. Students with dual enrollment are more likely to transfer from a community college to a four-year college and are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree. Yet participation is not evenly distributed — race, ethnicity, and gender affect who has access — showing that while dual enrollment clearly benefits students, not all students have the same opportunity to take part.

“Our research consistently shows that dual enrollment is more than an early start; it’s a strong on-ramp to student success in higher education.”

Matthew Holsapple
Senior Director of Research, National Student Clearinghouse Research Center