High School Students Earn College Credit with MCC Dual Enrollment

Middlesex Community College helps students of all ages gain the college experience they need. As a leader of award-winning online learning for over 20 years, Middlesex has the tools and experience needed to guide students to success. Dual Enrollment at MCC offers high school students an opportunity to take college-level courses that count towards both a high school diploma and a college degree.

The Dual Enrollment program at Middlesex allows high school students to complete general college course requirements and explore majors and possible fields of interest at an affordable price – saving thousands in tuition costs overall. In Massachusetts, Dual Enrollment students pay a state subsidized rate of $92 per credit versus the $252 current per credit rate.

Once students graduate from high school with MCC courses, they can transfer their earned credits to a four-year college or university as a second semester freshman or higher – depending on how many credits they have finished at Middlesex.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed teaching and learning. The college is collaborating with high school leaders and teachers to find solutions that provide students with the best education possible in these challenging times. MCC is prepared to support families who want to homeschool for the first time due to health risk concerns.

“The idea of homeschooling can be overwhelming for parents who do not feel they can teach the course content – this is where MCC can be instrumental in alleviating this concern and engaging students through both synchronous and asynchronous online courses,” said Ellen Grondine, MCC’s Dean of K-16 Partnerships. “MCC is an excellent option as students can be fully online, earn credit toward high school graduation and college degree attainment, and remain fully at home until school finds innovative ways to bring students back – at a significantly reduced rate.”

In asynchronous online learning, students work independently and engage with materials and other students on their own schedules while meeting deadlines. Synchronous online learning offers students an assigned time for classes to meet weekly in live online formats, such as on Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate. Both formats offer classes that are designed to run online and provide interactive and immersive experiences with high-quality content.

There is no minimum age requirement for Dual Enrollment students. Students who are interested in being challenged by the “stimulating and supportive learning environment” at MCC will often start taking classes and then continue for the duration of their high school career, according to Camille Brown, MCC’s Director of Admissions and Student Recruitment.

“Middlesex has a long history in Massachusetts of supporting Dual Enrollment and as one of the largest community colleges in the state, we have a wide variety of course offerings,” she said. “Our face-to-face classes have been newly designed for an online environment and with 98 percent of our courses being offered online this fall, there is no better time for Dual Enrollment students from across the state to join us.”

Students who participate in Dual Enrollment have access to all that MCC offers students, including support services, specialized advising, tutoring, small classes and participation in campus activities, events and clubs and organizations – all of which offer online options.

Prospective students and their families must attend a virtual Dual Enrollment Information Session. Sessions are held twice a week throughout August and help families get information, connect with Admissions staff, process applications and register for classes. Visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/dualenroll/default.aspx for more information and to register for an information session.

To learn more about the classes and opportunities MCC offers – and to register for fall classes – visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!