High School Dual Enrollment Courses and Programs
Take Dual Enrollment Classes in High School to Help Save Time and Money
Grand Canyon University offers on-campus and online dual enrollment classes as an affordable and efficient way for high school and homeschooled students to gain a head start on their college degree. GCU is a Christian university that prioritizes educating our students through a Christian worldview lens, providing them the opportunity to grow closer to God while implementing Christian principles as they complete their courses. With our ease of credit transferability into GCU, earning college credit can provide you with college-level academic knowledge and skills while still in high school and an accelerated college pathway that may reduce time to graduation.
To contact a dual enrollment counselor about registering for or learning more about dual enrollment courses, fill out the form on this page.
"I did dual enrollment through GCU my junior and senior year of high school, so I had 28 credits upon graduation."
Program Overview
GCU offers dual enrollment courses in a convenient and cost-affordable format that fits your schedule. With custom cohorts and online class options, taking dual enrollment courses in high school may be easier than ever.
Dual Enrollment Qualifications
GCU dual enrollment courses are available to:
- High school sophomores with an unweighted GPA of 3.25 or above
- High school juniors and seniors with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or above
All students are subject to GCU course prerequisites and course policies, which may include online placement tests. Please see the University Policy Handbook for more information.
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Gain Valuable College Experiences
GCU’s dual enrollment programs provide the same level of instruction and academic rigor as one would expect in a traditional college setting. This can help prepare you for when you enter college and reach the next academic level of study.
Our students are also taught course materials that are instilled with a Christian worldview in mind. This means that students are encouraged to deepen their faith as they complete their courses, using their knowledge to work toward bettering humanity and addressing the needs of the world.
Potentially Faster Graduation
Those who take advantage of dual enrollment courses offered by GCU may be able to get into their area of study faster once they reach college. Over 91% of 2022 traditional campus graduates spent less than four years at GCU to complete their degrees.
Tuition Savings on Credits
GCU’s dual enrollment courses provide the opportunity for cost savings in the long run. All courses are $52.50 per credit and you can take dual enrollment classes in high school to potentially earn up to 60 college credits.1
Easy Registration Process
The complete registration process for GCU’s dual enrollment program typically takes 10 days. Guided by a university counselor who specializes in dual enrollment, you can create an individualized pathway toward your intended area of study. You must contact your counselor directly to complete the registration process.
Courses Online
Course Length: 7 or 15 weeks
GCU’s learning management system, Halo, has interactive forums that allow online dual enrollment students to network, interact and collaborate with their peers and professors while completing projects and assignments.
Custom Cohorts for Co-Ops
Course Length: 15 weeks
High schools and homeschool co-ops can create a custom 15-week online cohort modality program to give you a head start on earning your college degree, as opposed to our standard 7-week online courses. This allows students to get familiar with the academic rigor of college coursework while still in the comfort of semester-based classes.
You can work directly with GCU’s dual enrollment team to create a custom cohort program based on your desired courses, start dates and any school-specific breaks needed during the course (for example, spring break or a mission trip).
Our innovative approach to education unlocks exciting possibilities for students looking to take advantage of dual enrollment courses for their individualized pathway programs and potentially graduate early from college. Use the table below to curate your educational journey using our dual enrollment courses or opt for one of our recommended pathways.
These degree pathways include essential prerequisites common to most undergraduate program tracks. Students who take dual enrollment courses can expedite their access to core content, potentially saving valuable time and resources, all while enjoying a personalized educational experience.
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Explore the Dual Enrollment Courses table, a detailed list of courses offered through GCU’s dual enrollment program, allowing students to explore various subjects and opportunities for college credit, online and on GCU’s campus in Phoenix.
To access a detailed list of courses offered specifically at high schools, click the button on the image above the table.
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Read through our frequently asked questions to learn more about dual enrollment
Program Details and Preparation
For an undergraduate bachelor’s degree, you need 120 total credits. This equates to about 40 classes, however that number may vary. The number of credits you need may vary depending on prior education, or if you have dual enrollment credits, for example.
This may depend on how dual enrollment credits transfer to your high school. Some high schools and their respective districts may apply dual enrollment credits to your high school GPA as equal to high school credits, some may weight your dual enrollment credits and some may not be able to apply dual enrollment credits at all. Please contact your high school counselor for more details on this.
Dual enrollment programs may determine readiness for demanding college coursework. When taking dual enrollment classes in high school, it’s important to prepare yourself to have a strict study regimen, a consistent schedule and to put in the hard work. Balancing outside obligations while taking college courses in high school can be tough, so make sure to dedicate time to your high school and dual enrollment studies along with your personal life.
GCU dual enrollment does not require SAT scores. In order to be accepted for dual enrollment courses at GCU, you must be a junior or senior in high school with an unweighted GPA of at least 3.0, or a sophomore with an unweighted GPA of 3.25 or higher. Dual enrollment students must meet all course prerequisites. Visit our Undergraduate Admissions Requirements page for more information.
Benefits and College Applications
It depends on what your aspirations for college and beyond may be. Advanced placement (AP) courses are designed for more rigorous coursework, which is something you may find in an honors program or degrees with advanced topics. AP is an alternative credit that requires you to take a test 5 in order to get the credit for college. Dual enrollment courses are college level and may be great for students who would like to explore college coursework and receive college credit while still in high school. Both AP and dual enrollment courses are designed to meet college credit requirements. It is recommended you check with your college of choice to see how AP or dual enrollment courses are applied to your degree program.
Yes. Dual enrollment courses can make your college application stand out. Dual enrollment courses provide college-level work that is not available at the high school level. This additional work may show the college that you are determined to further your education. As well, online dual enrollment courses can help you earn college credit that you may use to get ahead in your desired degree.
Dual enrollment program instructors deliver content that incorporates best practices in teaching, technology, classroom engagement, ethics and more. GCU and our instructors collaborate to provide academic support and monitor course effectiveness for all high school and homeschooled students.
Dual enrollment faculty are college faculty. All instructors are required to have a master’s degree or higher in the content area, or a master’s degree with 18 graduate hours (500+) in the content area.
Faculty qualifications for each course are set and approved by the GCU colleges, and instructors receive ongoing training, support and professional development.
1 Additional books/fees may apply