The Relationship Between Earning Dual Enrollment Credits and Saving Time and Money in Undergraduate Degree Completion at a Christian College

Dual enrollment programs are billed as valuable preparation for success in college and often promote opportunities for reduced time and expense in college-degree completion. However, there appears to be a lack of research actually supporting, or disproving, these claims of profitability. This research used a quantitative, correlational study to evaluate the predictive relationship between the number of dual enrollment credits earned by students while in high school and the subsequent length of time to college degree completion. The sample included 103 undergraduate students pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Midwestern, private, nonprofit, religious university. Utilizing self-reported demographic data and measures derived through the Graduating Student Survey (GSS), a multiple regression analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship based on the linear combination of dual enrollment credits, anticipated college debt load, and time to degree completion. Limitations of the study include a non-diverse sampling and the use of self-reported data. Implications and recommendations for future research are provided. The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.