James Spencer heard about the advantages of Washtenaw Community College's dual-enrollment opportunities from his high school administrators and a more influential trusted source: his mom, a former WCC student.
“My path for dual enrollment was from the combined efforts of my high school counselor
and my mom, who both wanted me to take advantage of this wonder-
ful opportunity,” Spencer (pictured above) says.
RELATED: Dual Enrollment Info & FAQs
It’s a “wonderful opportunity” more and more students are seizing. Dual enrollment is growing rapidly across the country — and at WCC the numbers tell a compelling story. Since 2015, the number of dual-enrolled high school students has nearly doubled, from 847 to 1,489. The college credit hours they’ve earned have soared from 6,538 to 10,966.
Why the surge? Students and families recognize two key benefits:
— Saving time and money by earning college credit while still in high school.
— Smoothing the transition to the academic and social demands of a four-year university.
In Michigan, most public school districts cover the cost of college classes for high school students — removing financial barriers and widening access.
Spencer, who just finished his first year at the University of Michigan, took full advantage during his senior year of high school. He enrolled in Composition I (ENG 111) and General Astronomy (AST 111) at WCC.
“One specific advantage dual enrolling at WCC gave me was that the composition class replaced my first-year writing requirement at U-M,” he says. “That allowed me to get a bit ahead and make for a smoother path my freshman year. I also arrived at U-M knowing how college classes work in a way, so the general transition from high school to university was much easier for me.”
While some students register for individual classes, many participate through formal early middle college partnerships WCC has established with local districts. These programs blend high school and college course work, helping students graduate with not just a diploma, but significant college credit and often a certificate or associate degree.
WCC is also home to Washtenaw Technical Middle College, a charter high school where students become dually enrolled after demonstrating academic and soft-skill readiness.
Most WTMC graduates leave with both a high school diploma and college credentials.
In addition, WCC partners with organizations like the Dexter Early Middle College and Ypsilanti STEMM Middle College, continuing to expand access to college for motivated high school students across the region.
Tags: Dual-Enrollment, Fall 2025, Launch