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Concurrent Enrollment Option

Concurrent Enrollment: Concurrent Enrollment Option

Concurrent Enrollment

  • Learn about the benefits, challenges and costs of participating in Concurrent Enrollment.

  • Listen to what students and school staff think about this option.


No tuition cost to you

There is no tuition cost for Concurrent Enrollment courses, though you may have to pay for books, supplies or fees (check with your school). The tuition bill is paid by your school district.

Save money and time on college

By taking Concurrent Enrollment courses while in high school at no tuition cost, you save money and time by not having to take and pay for those courses when you enroll in college after you graduate high school. Learn more about the costs of college here: How Much Does College Cost?

Guaranteed credit transfer

Concurrent Enrollment courses are guaranteed to transfer to any public institution within the state of Colorado. However, while courses transfer, it is still important to determine if they will apply to your college degree or certificate. Learn more about the transfer of credits here: How Will My Credits Transfer?

Convenience

If the Concurrent Enrollment class you're in is taught by one of your high school teachers and is in a classroom in your high school building, it most likely fits into your class schedule easily which means you don't have to own a car and drive to a college campus to earn college credit. So convenient!

Build up your confidence

Counselors tell us that students who are nervous about taking a college class end up being more confident once they pass because now they know they can be successful in a college course.

Opportunity to earn industry-based certificates

If you take Career & Technical Education Concurrent Enrollment courses, you have the opportunity to earn industry-based certificates which are recognized by local and national workforce agencies and indicate a student has developed the skills necessary to be successful in this competitive workforce.

Students are successful

Data from the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Community College System show over 90% of students who take Concurrent Enrollment courses pass with a C or better. Check out the Annual Report on Concurrent Enrollment in Colorado for more information. 

A college course may take more time out of your schedule

Consider your current schedule (high school classes, sports and activities) when thinking about participating in Concurrent Enrollment. On average, for every one credit hour you take in college, you will spend approximately 2-3 hours outside of class studying. Use this formula: 3 credit hours (1 course) = 3 hours in class per week = 6-9 hours study time per week.

It may feel like a high school class to you

If the Concurrent Enrollment class you're in is taught by one of your high school teachers and is in a classroom in your high school building, it might feel like another high school class, but it is not a high school class. It is a college class that would be offered at a college campus for traditional college students. It is a college class with college grades and college consequences. The grade you earn in a Concurrent Enrollment class impacts your eligibility for financial aid, your future college GPA, and your ability to register in future Concurrent Enrollment courses.

Another email to check and a different student system/portal to use

You may be used to your high school's email system and student portal (like Naviance, Infinite Campus or PowerSchool) but colleges use different student systems, and you'll be given a new college email address to check. It may be frustrating to have to check two different emails and student portals, but you'll have to keep up with both so you don't miss any important messages.

You may have to pay for books, supplies or fees

Some schools cover these costs and some schools do not. Check with your school to find out who is responsible. Also, some Concurrent Enrollment courses use free books and resources called Open Education Resources (OER). Check with your instructor before purchasing or renting books. Fees may include things like: course fees, lab fees, parking fees, etc. Check your college student account to review your bill.

You may have to pay the cost to get to your class if it is taught on a college campus

Your school district is not required to cover your transportation costs if you take a Concurrent Enrollment class at a college campus. Paying for gas in your car or paying for a bus pass is your responsibility.

Authorize your College Opportunity Fund (COF)

You need to authorize COF to help pay for your college courses. COF is a stipend provided by the state to help cover a portion of tuition. Learn more about COF here. Please note that college-level credits earned through Concurrent Enrollment will be deducted from your 145 COF lifetime credits account maximum.


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Still have more questions?

Talk with your school counselor about the specifics of participating in Concurrent Enrollment at your school.