Key takeaways:
- Some students opt to enroll in two colleges at once, with one designated “home” school. The credits from the second college then transfer to the home school.
- You can only use federal financial aid at your home school but you may receive outside or institutional aid that you can use towards both colleges.
- Dual enrolling requires extra work and planning but it can result in lower overall tuition costs and faster graduation timelines.
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Students can enroll in two colleges at once which could mean lower attendance costs and completing the degree program faster. However, it’s also a lot of work and requires advance planning. You might also not receive enough financial aid to cover the total price. In this guide, we dive into what dual enrollment (or concurrent enrollment) means for your graduation timeline, workload, and bottom line.
Can you be enrolled in two colleges at once?
Yes, you can enroll in two colleges at once. You might see it referred to as dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, or co-enrollment. Dual-enrolled students have a “home school” where they will earn their degree. Credits from the other college are transferred to the home school, where they are put towards the degree requirements.
Depending on your situation, you might be able to take courses simultaneously:
- By attending a community college and a 4-year institution: Some 2-year and 4-year schools have partnerships that allow students to enroll at courses at both institutions, such as the University of Oregon and Lane Community College. You could also take courses at unconnected community colleges and 4-year schools.
- Through a consortium: Some 4-year colleges have partnerships with nearby schools. For example, the Quaker Consortium includes four institutions: Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, University of Pennsylvania, and Swarthmore College. Students attending these schools can enroll in courses at the others within the consortium.
- By attending two unconnected 4-year schools: You can theoretically attend two separate 4-year schools but it can be expensive. If you need financial aid to attend both, your offer may not cover the total cost of attendance at both institutions.
Can you receive financial aid at two colleges simultaneously?
You can receive some forms of financial aid at two colleges simultaneously. However, you can only use federal aid, such as the Pell Grant, at your home school. You may receive institutional aid from both schools but you’ll likely have limited access to need-based programs at your second college.
If you’re dual enrolled through a consortium, you could be eligible to receive aid from both colleges.
You can also use many outside scholarships and grants at both schools. If you receive a $10,000 scholarship, you’ll receive $10,000 total. You can use it towards your home school, your secondary college, or split it between the two, depending on how the organization distributes the money.
Whether you’re a full-time or part-time student could affect your financial aid packages. If your financial aid doesn’t cover the cost of your dual enrollment, you may want to consider a private student loan.
Should you attend two colleges at the same time?
There are a few benefits (as well as a few downsides) to attending two colleges at the same time. Some pros to consider are:
- Access to more courses: By attending two colleges, you have access to a wider course catalog and might find it easier to enroll in classes with limited seats.
- Potentially easier scheduling: Courses between the two schools will likely be scheduled at different times so you can enroll in classes that better fit your schedule.
- More flexibility: A course could be on-campus at one school but online at the other, offering more flexibility based on your preferences and existing schedule.
- Access to more support, extracurriculars, and facilities: With two colleges comes twice the facilities and support access, such as a wider selection of library services and books, gym equipment, career resources, clubs, and more.
- Potentially graduate faster: If you’re taking more than 15 credits a semester between the two schools, you could graduate with your degree sooner.
- Save money: Dual enrolling could result in less expensive credit transfers. You might be able to save by taking the course at a community college rather than the 4-year. If you graduate faster, you’ll also likely spend less overall and can enter the workforce (or pursue your master’s) faster.
However, the downsides to keep in mind include:
- It’s a lot of work. Dual enrollment requires a lot of time management skills, as you’re potentially juggling two separate campuses and more than 15 credits. If you take on too much, you could struggle to keep on top of your classes.
- Your financial aid package may be affected. Whether you’re a full-time or part-time student and how you’re enrolled in two colleges can affect your financial aid package. If you need aid in order to attend both schools, you might not receive enough to cover the total cost.
- It requires advanced planning. You need to communicate with both colleges about your intention to dual enroll. You also have to be meticulous in your course selection to avoid potential overlap. Talk with your academic advisor to determine the best route forward.
Is dual enrollment right for you?
Taking courses at two colleges simultaneously can be a lot of work but planning ahead can pay off big time, with potential savings and faster graduation timelines. If you think dual enrollment is right for you, schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss the next steps and your financial aid office to determine how your aid offer may be affected.
Want to learn more about colleges that are in consortiums? Or local community colleges and 4-year institutions? College Match can help you locate the schools that fit your goals and needs – start here, it’s free!
