“Dual enrollment has been a wild boost to my life and my career,” says Noah Adalbert, a recent graduate of Geneva College in western Pennsylvania.

Through dual, also called concurrent, enrollment programs, high school students can take college classes while still in high school. Colleges typically offer classes at a reduced rate for high schoolers, and many states and high schools offer full or partial funding for dual enrollment.

Noah took full advantage of dual enrollment opportunities and was able to transfer in 42 credits when he enrolled full time in college. This allowed him to graduate in just three years, which he estimates saved him around $15,000. There were other benefits beyond the financial impact. “Dual enrollment really helped prepare me for the rigors of college,” he says. “I was so comfortable with the college workload that I was miles ahead on day one.”

Dual enrollment policies vary by state. Around 82 percent of public high schools offer dual enrollment; most of those offer at least partial state or district funding. In some states, private and homeschooled students are also eligible for dual enrollment funding through their local school districts. But the reduced tuition price means it’s worth looking into dual enrollment even if you don’t have access to funding.

Education savings accounts (ESAs), which allow families to access a portion of state education dollars to use for a variety of educational expenses, can generally be used for dual enrollment classes. As more states enact ESAs, this will open tremendous opportunities for students who otherwise might miss out.

There is evidence that participating in dual enrollment increases the likelihood of attending and graduating from college. This seems reasonable since, as Noah found, dual enrollment helps students understand the college workload before they get there. Moreover, successful dual enrollment participation looks good on a high school transcript when applying to college.

Students who are interested in participating in dual enrollment can check with their local four‐​year or community colleges. There are also online options, which provide additional flexibility and access for students who have tricky schedules or don’t live near a college campus.