Cost Benefits of Dual Enrollment By: Jessica Key Cost Benefits of Dual Enrollment By: Jessica Key

High school students may not be fully aware of the long-term benefits they can obtain by receiving dual enrollment credit hours while in high school and fail to take advantage of opportunities

Exposure to rigorous college curriculum Earn college credit while in high school Save money-don’t incur debt Save time to complete degree Enter workforce earlier

Dual Enrollment allows students to obtain college credit while still in high school. -Earn college and high school credit simultaneously Rigorous & quality curriculum -Challenge students -Require more accountability than regular High School courses Supported by state legislation No cost for students to attend Enter graduate school earlier

Estimated Cost of Attending College (at USF) -$20,760 for two semesters for year -Full time -Tuition/Fees, Room & Board, Books, Personal Expenses, Transportation Tuition and Fees -Estimated at $6,410 for $ in state, UG student -3 credit hours (1 UG class) Estimated $ Not Cheap

A college degree is a financial investment High cost to attend Students are not fee liable for dual enrollment courses taken Incur less debt once attend post-secondary institution

Sources to lessen financial funding At postsecondary institution Financial Aid -FAFSA -Scholarships -Federal Grants -Federal Loans -Private Loans -Tuition Waivers -529 Plans(example: Florida Prepaid)

Average time to complete first Bachelor’s Degree is four years Most degree programs require 120 credit hours -30 credit hours a year, 15 credit hours per semester -Full time enrollment

Conducted action research and obtained data on current statistics regarding dual enrollment participation, costs, and time of competition -Students completed short survey regarding knowledge of dual enrollment at their high school and benefits associating with enrolling in Dual Enrollment programs

Survey results analyzed Research regarding descriptive statistics and average amounts for University of South Florida obtained Data compared Saving of time and money were identified

Dual Enrollment credit hours -Student enter with an variety amount of DE credit hours -Varies depending on availability of courses offered in their school/districts Saving (Undergraduate) -$3,205 per semester (based on full-time enrollment, 15 credit hours) -Average of $500 on books -Saving per 3 credit hour course $ (based on USF costs)

Time to complete college degree saved -Students who enter college with dual enrollment credits can graduate in 3 years instead of the average 4 -Shave up to 1 year off time spend at university for UG degree -Decrease total number of semesters spend obtaining Bachelor’s degree

Track Progress -track progress and degree completion of students who have obtained dual enrollment courses in H.S. -targets small population and compose updates on progress throughout college Increase Recruitment Efforts -Expand target population -Revamp current promotional strategies -Begin recruitment earlier

Improve USF Provost Scholars Program -current program at USF -Goal of program-help students complete college earlier -students must have at least 18 college credit hours upon entering college to participate in the program -Special invite to participate in program Current marketing strategies of program -brochures -calling campaign with USF Admissions

Program is falling short of reaching goal of admitting 50 students participate Students not meeting all requirements for program Improvement would increase awareness of program and increase participate entries

References for the Report can be found under the reference section of Part III of the Capstone Practicum Project