Staff Reports | Community Updates
Dual enrollment participation is rising at Maricopa Community Colleges at a record pace. During the 2024–25 academic year, the 10-college system had 27,912 high school students take dual enrollment courses—an all-time high for the system.
This academic year, 25,847 students have already enrolled, putting Maricopa Community Colleges on track to serve the largest dual enrollment class in its history, according to a press release.
Maricopa Community Colleges is Arizona’s largest provider of dual enrollment. The record-setting numbers highlight Arizona high school students’ interest in getting a head start on a college degree.
A proven pathway to college success
Dual enrollment offers high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while completing their high school diploma, saving time, reducing costs and supporting success in higher education. Research from the Helios Education Foundation shows students who participate in dual enrollment are twice as likely to attend college, and once enrolled, are more likely to persist, earn higher GPAs and complete postsecondary degrees.
“Dual enrollment is one of the most powerful tools we have to open doors to higher education,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges. “When students take college courses while still in high school, they gain confidence, earn credits early and start to think of college as a natural next step in their academic journey.”
Dr. Gonzales added that expanding access to dual enrollment helps build a college-going culture across Arizona.
Strength in partnerships
The growth reflects collaboration with K–12 districts, industry leaders and education partners across Arizona. Through partnerships with the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation and its ElevateEdAZ initiative, Maricopa Community Colleges has expanded access to high-quality dual enrollment instruction.
The partnership, supported by a $950,000 grant from the Helios Education Foundation, has led to new investments in teacher certification, helping more Arizona high school educators become qualified to teach dual enrollment courses.
Building Arizona’s workforce
Dual enrollment is not just about starting college early; it also serves as a strategy to prepare students for the workforce. Many courses align with Career and Technical Education pathways that prepare students for growing industries, including health care, information technology and advanced manufacturing.
“Dual enrollment is really about igniting potential and opportunity,” said Valerie Jones, vice chancellor of workforce and economic development at Maricopa Community Colleges. “Every student who participates takes a step toward discovering a career they are passionate about that provides economic mobility and strengthens Arizona’s economy.”
Ms. Jones emphasized that these programs help students connect education to real-world careers.
A statewide leader in educational access
Each year, Maricopa Community Colleges serves more than 145,000 students, educating more Arizonans than any other college or university in the state. Dual enrollment is one of many pathways helping Arizona learners access affordable, flexible and career-focused education close to home.
