Dual Enrollment | Virginia's Community Colleges

Earn college credits while in high school and save time and money on your college degree or certificate.

Diverse high school students in a lounge

Why Choose Dual Enrollment?

Accelerate Degree or Certificate Completion

Dual enrollment allows high school students to earn college credits, giving them a head start in completing their college degree or certificate.

Cut College and Career Training Costs

With dual enrollment, students can save money on tuition by earning credits at a reduced cost compared to traditional college courses.

Early Experience for College

Students gain valuable insights into the demands of college-level coursework while still in high school.

Credits Accepted at Virginia’s Colleges and Universities

Through the Transfer Virginia initiative, credits earned in dual enrollment are widely accepted across Virginia’s community colleges and four-year institutions.

How It Works

Sign Up for Dual Enrollment

Apply for admission and meet with your high school counselor or college advisor to select eligible courses that align with your academic and career goals.

Earn College Credits While in High School

Take college courses that apply toward your future degree or certificate program.

Begin College with Confidence

Graduate high school with college credits in hand and a solid understanding of college-level expectations.

Transition into a career

Earn a degree or certificate that prepares you for your future career.

Dual Enrollment Success

Meet Mallory, a former dual enrollment student, whose experience gave her a jump start on her college credits and confidence for the journey ahead.

College and Career Ready Virginia (CCRV) was put in place through House Bill 1087 in 2024. CCRV establishes that students can receive the Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) or Passport at no cost to them while in high school. Each high school will have a prescribed pathway to meet the requirements of the Passport or UCGS that will be offered at no cost to all dual enrollment eligible students.

Classes to fulfill the requirements will either be provided by credentialed faculty in a student’s home high school or online by college faculty. All UCGS courses taught by credentialed faculty at a student’s high school are offered at no cost. Not all courses that are eligible for the Passport or UCGS will be available at each high school, but courses outside of the prescribed pathway may be taken at cost at the community college and will count toward completion of the Passport or UCGS.

The Passport and UCGS offer a strong foundation to students’ higher education. Completion of the Passport or UCGS ensures that credits transfer and apply towards general education requirements at all 4-year public colleges and most private 4-year colleges in Virginia. To learn more about transferring credits, visit the Transfer Virginia website.

Other dual enrollment options that are not a part of CCRV may have costs associated with taking the course. For information related to CCRV, a specific high school’s pathway, or general dual enrollment questions, please contact a high school counselor or dual enrollment coordinator for your service region.

Dual Enrollment and CCRV FAQs

Question	Answer	Category
What courses are available for dual enrollment?	Students can take a variety of courses that align with their interests and future major. Consult with your high school counselor for options.	A.Students and Guardians
How do I find out if I'm eligible for dual enrollment?	All students admitted to dual enrollment must demonstrate readiness for college by meeting specific academic criteria. Consult your high school counselor or the college you plan to attend for more details.	A.Students and Guardians
Will these credits transfer to other colleges?	Yes! Dual enrollment credits are generally accepted at public and private colleges in Virginia. Specific accepted courses depend on the student’s major and college or university.	A.Students and Guardians
How much does dual enrollment cost?	Courses that count toward a Passport or Uniform Certificate of General Studies taught by high school faculty in the high school are offered at no cost to the student. Each high school should have a prescribed pathway to complete the Passport or UCGS at no cost to the student. Courses outside of the pathway and courses taught on a college campus may be at full cost or a discounted rate. Consult with your high school counselor or the college you plan to attend for more details.	A.Students and Guardians
Can I earn high school credit while earning college credit?	In many circumstances, students can earn high school credits while also earning college credit. Consult with your high school counselor for more information.	A.Students and Guardians
WIll I need to pay for textbooks or additional materials?	Textbook and material costs vary based on course and high school. Consult with your high school counselor or the college you plan to attend for more details.	A.Students and Guardians
Is financial aid available for dual enrollment?	Federal and state financial aid are not available for dual enrollment students. However, some Virginia community colleges and school districts offer tuition assistance for eligible students.	A.Students and Guardians
How do I apply for dual enrollment courses?	Apply for admission at your local community college and meet with your high school counselor or college advisor to select eligible courses that align with your academic and career goals.	A.Students and Guardians
Are AP or IB courses the same as dual enrollment?	No, AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) courses are high school classes with college-level material, where college credit may be earned by passing exams.	A.Students and Guardians
Are there online dual enrollment courses?	Yes, many Virginia community colleges offer online dual enrollment courses. Availability depends on the subject and specific college. Certain courses may still have in-person components, so confirm with the offering college.	A.Students and Guardians
What are the Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies?	The Passport and Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) are 16 or 31 credit programs that give a strong foundation to students' higher education. Completion of the Passport or UCGS ensures that credits transfer and apply towards general education requirements at all 4-year public colleges and most private 4-year colleges in Virginia. For information related to CCRV, a specific high school’s pathway, or general dual enrollment questions, please contact a high school counselor or dual enrollment coordinator for your service region.	A.Students and Guardians
Are all UCGS courses offered at a high school and taught by a high school instructor at no cost to the student or division, even if they’re not in the UCGS pathway?	Yes.	B.Passport and UCGS: courses and credits
Can students take courses that don’t necessarily lead to Passport/UCGS completion if they’re offered at the high school? Would this be at no cost?	Yes, students can take any UCGS course offered at the high school and taught by high school faculty at no cost.However, the Passport and UCGS offer clear pathways to transferable credits.	B.Passport and UCGS: courses and credits
Is there a credit limit for students taking UCGS courses?	No.	B.Passport and UCGS: courses and credits
Are Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses offered at no cost?	CTE courses will not be provided at no cost at this time.	D.Student Populations
Can a Dual Enrollment student take courses during the summer at no cost?	If a student is taking a course on the college campus, the student will pay tuition. The UCGS pathway is assumed to be made up of classes offered in the fall and spring.	B.Passport and UCGS: courses and credits
Classes in the high schools may not be fully aligned with the college calendar. Can colleges offer online classes that follow the college calendar rather than the high school calendar?	Yes. Note that this means that if a class period is set aside in the school day for students to take a virtual course, the high school will have to find something for the students to do during that time when the college course is not in session	F.Online Courses
If a student is taking a course for dual enrollment that is a requirement to graduate and they do not pass, can they still graduate high school?	If a student fails a dual enrollment course that is a required course for their high school, they have not met the requirements to graduate.	F.Online Courses
Do “lab fees” include instructional materials for a course? Who provides access to technology to students?	High schools and/or parents or guardians are responsible for providing students with essential technology, such as a laptop, for Dual Enrollment (DE) courses. However, DE students are welcome to use college-provided equipment and resources when they are on campus, just like any other college student. If a course requires specialized software and the college normally provides that software as part of its enterprise license (e.g., MatLab), the college will cover the cost. If the software is considered an instructional material—similar to a textbook—then it must be purchased by the high school. This represents a shift in practice for some districts, where students have previously purchased their own textbooks. It’s important to communicate these expectations clearly and early. We strongly recommend that colleges send school partners a detailed list of required textbooks and instructional materials in advance of the semester.	E.Technology and Fees
What is the definition of “qualified” high school students?	See Policy 6.6.3 Criteria for Participation in Dual Enrollment for further information on criteria: The student is a rising public or private high school junior or senior, or homeschool student studying at the high school junior or senior level. The high school student has permission of the principal or designee, and the parent. The homeschool student has permission of the parent. The student demonstrates readiness for each college-level credit-bearing course in which they want to enroll. The dual enrollment student must meet all course pre/corequisites as listed in the VCCS Master Course File and established by the college at which the student is enrolled in the course.	C.Student Qualifications
If a student is taking a college course that is not required for high school completion, can it still count for dual credit?	Yes. Dual enrollment means students are getting both high school and college credit, even if the high school credit does not fulfill a requirement for graduation.	A.Students and Guardians



Question	Answer	Category

Dual Enrollment Research Resources

What Happens to Students Who Take Community College Dual Enrollment Courses in High School

Dual Enrollment One Pager

Next steps

Students interested in Dual Enrollment should speak with high school staff regarding eligibility. The list below features community college contacts for Dual Enrollment who coordinate with the high school by service area. Please see the college websites below for more information.

VCCS College Dual Enrollment Contacts

Blue Ridge Community College
Dual Enrollment at BRCC

Brightpoint Community College
Dual Enrollment at Brightpoint

Central Virginia Community College
Dual Enrollment at CVCC

Danville Community College
Dual Enrollment at DCC

Eastern Shore Community College
Dual Enrollment at ESCC

Germanna Community College
Dual Enrollment at GCC

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Dual Enrollment at Reynolds

Laurel Ridge Community College
Dual Enrollment at LR

Mountain Empire Community College
Dual Enrollment at MECC

Mountain Gateway Community College
Dual Enrollment at MGCC

New River Community College
Dual Enrollment at NRCC

Northern Virginia Community College
Dual Enrollment at NOVA

Patrick & Henry Community College
Dual Enrollment at P&HCC

Paul D. Camp Community College
Dual Enrollment at PDCCC

Piedmont Virginia Community College
Dual Enrollment at PVCC

Rappahannock Community College
Dual Enrollment at RCC

Southside Virginia Community College
Dual Enrollment at SVCC

Southwest Virginia Community College
Dual Enrollment at SWCC

Tidewater Community College
Dual Enrollment at TCC

Virginia Highlands Community College
Dual Enrollment at VHCC

Virginia Peninsula Community College
Dual Enrollment at VPCC

Virginia Western Community College
Dual Enrollment at VWCC

Wytheville Community College
Dual Enrollment at WCC

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