Pell Grants for Dual Enrollment High School Students

 

The dual enrollment program offers students the opportunity to take college courses and to earn college credit while still in high school. Over 2,000 U.S. colleges and universities offer students this program on high school campuses. When students from lower-income families enroll in courses where they can earn college credit that works towards a certification or degree, not only will they succeed in high school, but graduate high school, enroll in college, and persist through college graduation.

Many of the colleges and state schools subsidize tuition rates for the dual enrollment program but not all of them do. For the majority of schools who offer this program, families and students have to pay out-of-pocket tuition for these course offerings. Unfortunately, as a result, lower-income students are less likely to take advantage of these course offerings when compared to their more affluent counterparts.

Unlike matriculated college students, high school students do not have access to federal financial aid or other aid packages. Federal Pell Grants, or need-based federal grant money that do not need to be repaid, are only awarded to low-income undergraduate students or those who have earned a high-school diploma or an equivalent degree.

As of late October 2015, the Obama administration is changing the policy on Pell Grant availability. The U.S. Department of Education has announced an experimental plan for students in dual-enrollment courses in high school. Pell Grants, on a limited basis, are now being offered to these students. During its inaugural year, $20 million will be made available for up to 10,000 eligible students from low-income backgrounds. As many as 200 colleges have expressed interest in being a part of this funding opportunity. The Pell Grant will cap at a 12-semester limit; students will no longer be eligible to receive federal grants after using the aid for 12 semesters. By offering federal grants to public high school students, it invites more opportunities for scholars to enroll in rigorous and competitive dual enrollment programs that may, otherwise, not have been available to them.

If your child wants a head start in experiencing college courses, now may be the time to look into the next enrollment period at your local community college. Often times, enrolling into college courses will earn you credit on your high school transcript. Be sure to check in with your child’s counselor to see if the credits will transfer to maximize your child’s learning progress.