When do Connecticut students start college? Increasingly, in Connecticut and nationwide, they begin to take college and university courses while still in high school.  

Dual and Concurrent Enrollment (DE/CE) programs—with high school students taking postsecondary courses on college and university campuses, online, or in their own high school classrooms—are surging across the U.S. The latest Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) statistics from the 2023-24 academic year show up to 2.8 million high school students participating in college coursework, some as early as 9th grade. 

This growth raises an important question: Who gets the opportunity to get ahead through early college programs?  

Some states, particularly in the South and West, have made massive investments in DE/CE programs, encouraging students to take advantage of opportunities for college courses and workforce preparation. Such investments are paying off for students and families from underserved communities. While early college courses used to be the domain of families of privilege, statewide initiatives have increased the range of access dramatically. 

In recent years, responding to calls from the Governor and State Legislature, the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system has expanded outreach and offerings to schools across the state. So what does early college education look like in practice? 

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) focuses on improving equity and college access for all by providing an inclusive Early College Program for students throughout the state. SCSU’s collaborative approach highlights the importance of fostering meaningful partnerships with school districts and fellow institutions of higher education. By sharing insights into program design and implementation, we aim to inspire similar initiatives and contribute to the ongoing dialogue promoting early college experiences for all.  

SCSU’s Early College Program allows non-matriculated students from partner high schools to earn up to 30 college credits (10 courses). Students receive a tuition waiver, and as of Fall 2025, there are no fees for students or their families. Recognizing that even modest costs can present barriers, Interim President Sandra Bulmer eliminated the $65 per-course fee earlier this year and authorized refunds for fees paid for Fall 2025. 

Now, any eligible student at a partner school who wants to take SCSU courses—from Foundations of Sport Management to Aquaculture to Introduction to Public Health to Social Psychology to Digital Foundations for Art & Design, and many more—can do so for free. Teachers at partner schools are encouraged to become credentialed as SCSU affiliate instructors and to teach university courses in their own classrooms. Students may also come to campus for afternoon and evening classes, where they are integrated with university students and get to experience the life and resources of SCSU’s campus. 

Benefits of Dual Enrollment Courses for Students and Parents 

Participation in dual credit programs offers high school students the opportunity to excel academically and save money by reducing college expenses. It is possible for students to take two courses each semester during their junior and senior years, plus once course each summer, but most find it more realistic to engage in coursework at a pace that may add up to 15 credits by graduation time—still a significant start for a college career and a big money-saver. Dual and concurrent enrollment courses also help high school students explore various career paths. 

When we surveyed concurrent enrollment students in January, we asked what advice they would give to future Early College students. One replied, “A piece of advice I would give . . . is take the challenge, help get the confidence and prepare yourself for college.”

Joel Tolman, director of community engagement and impact at Common Ground High School, Urban Farm & Environmental Education Center, affirmed that advice: Common Ground students use Early College courses “to explore multiple potential pathways in a low-risk environment, so they [can] get to college already having tried (and accepted or rejected) some of these potential pathways.” At the same time, Mr. Tolman noted, “most of these students were also building confidence in themselves and in Southern, so even if they took a different path once they got to SCSU, the early college courses they took set them up for success.”  

Taking college-level courses with trusted high school teachers offers students a supportive environment in which to experience both the rewards and rigor of higher education. Teachers, too, benefit by engaging with subject areas not typically available through Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) offerings. Mr. Tolman, for example, is currently teaching ENV 204: Principles of Sustainability to twenty Common Ground students. 

Early College creates a true win-win partnership. High schools, colleges, universities, and local communities all benefit from improved graduation rates, stronger college enrollment outcomes, and enhanced workforce preparation. Southern Connecticut State University has recently gained recognition as an R2 research institution, offering advanced degrees up through doctorates and investing significantly in faculty research, frequently with students as partners on the research teams. Early College students who matriculate at SCSU after finishing high school will have more opportunities to participate in cutting-edge projects in their chosen field.  

Dual credit classes get them ready for that leap. We welcome high school classes to visit our campus for tours of specialized labs, like the Shelton High School “Introduction to Exercise and Sport Science” class that gained on-site experience with our health sciences program in a visit last fall. 

In sum, Southern Connecticut State University has created an Early College program that provides eligible students with a way to make higher education more accessible, affordable, and achievable. With partnership agreements in place with over 100 high schools and districts across Connecticut, Early College continues to reach out to students and families who will benefit the most from these experiences. This year, over 3,500 students are signed up for college credit courses through the program.  

Many Connecticut high school students are ready to make the leap to higher education courses and research experiences by their junior year, and SCSU’s Early College program is ready to support them. 

Andrew Smyth is faculty director of Early College at Southern Connecticut State University. Olcay Yavuz is former faculty director of SCSU’s Early College.