College Students' Perceptions of the Impact of Dual Credit Classes on Their College Experience

Dual credit courses have become widely available to high school students. Unknown is the impact of dual credit classes taken during high school on college students' university experience. This qualitative study aimed to explore upper-level college students' perspectives about how high school dual enrollment courses shaped their college experience. Interview data from upper-level college student participants was analyzed for themes to answer the research questions. Results of this study provide dual credit education administrators with knowledge about student success beyond high school, including those components of dual credit that were helpful or otherwise, and how dual credit courses prepared college students for their educational career while pursuing a degree at a university. Implications as a call to action in practice and recommendations for future research are discussed.