The Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) announced this week that significantly more Maryland high school students are earning college credit before graduating high school. Dual enrollments at community colleges jumped 20% in fall 2014 compared to the prior year. Dual enrollment programs allow students to simultaneously enroll in high school and college.

“Saving time and money is just part of what dual enrollment is all about,” said Dr. Bernie Sadusky, Executive Director of MACC. “Dually enrolled students, especially at-risk students, often improve high school performance, and are more likely to complete college than peers who are not dually enrolled.”

According to the press release from The Maryland Association of Community Colleges,

During each semester of the 2014-15 academic year, over 5,000 Maryland high school students took college courses for credit at their local community colleges.

Discounted tuition, plus college credit earned in high school, can give students a head start on college and career, and can significantly improve college affordability and reduce student debt.

For more information about dual enrollment opportunities throughout Maryland, read the full press release from The Maryland Association of Community Colleges.