Dual enrollment is a program that allows students to take college-level courses to earn credit toward both their high school diploma and college degree. To enroll in dual enrollment, a student must be a high school student who has completed eighth grade, be in good academic standing, and meet specific college requirements, such as submitting an application, obtaining parent and high school principal signatures, and, depending on the course, getting approval from the division.
Students can benefit greatly from dual enrollment. Courses are taken either at the student’s high school or at a local college. By enrolling, students can save time and money, earn college credit in high school, and reduce the time and cost of a four-year degree. Before enrolling, it’s important to know that not all dual enrollment courses are guaranteed to transfer to every university, so students should check with the colleges they are interested in to ensure the credits will count toward their degree. All college courses taken will appear on a permanent college transcript.
Classes available include English, math, architecture, art and design, astronomy, and more. Decisions on who can participate in dual enrollment are based on academic requirements, age, and administrative approvals. Monica Gonzalez, a counselor for 10th- through 12th-grade students with last names A-EL, reminds students to stay committed. She said, “If you decide to take a dual enrollment course, you need to be committed to doing well because that will be the start of your college GPA, regardless of where you go, since you will now have a college transcript.”
Dual enrollment begins in spring 2026, and application deadlines for spring 2026 are Jan. 2, 2026, for Cerritos College.
If you’re interested in enrolling, here are the steps to follow for Cerritos College: visit the Cerritos College website, create your OpenCCC account, submit your application, and wait 24–48 hours. Once admissions processes your dual enrollment forms, you’ll receive an email letting you know when you can enroll. Students will register through their MyCerritos account and should check it for their registration appointment or open enrollment date. Always talk to your counselor for more information.
