Table of Contents
- Discover the benefits of Dual Enrollment
- What is the Dual Enrollment Program?
- What colleges and universities are partnered with Reach's Dual Enrollment Program?
- Student Testimony
Discover the benefits of Dual Enrollment
Save time, money, and resources toward higher education. It sounds good, doesn't it? That's what Reach's Dual Enrollment program can do for your student. Students who take part in the Dual Enrollment program can earn high school and college credits at the same time. According to the website College Tuition Compare, a site that compares college and university tuition and admission information, students who participate in Dual Enrollment programs can save thousands of dollars on college courses, versus students who take the same courses offered at a four-year institution. Additionally, through the Dual Enrollment program, students have the opportunity to earn 18+ college credits by the time they graduate from Reach Cyber Charter School, shortening the time required to earn a college degree. Furthermore, students who take part in dual enrollment opportunities set themselves apart from other college applicants and make their college applications more competitive.
What is the Dual Enrollment Program?
Dual Enrollment is a Reach Cyber Charter School program that allows qualified sophomores, juniors, and seniors to enroll in courses at partnering colleges and universities, while still in high school. Reach Cyber Charter School students who qualify for Dual Enrollment may apply for admission to a variety of courses. Reach will then work with these schools to determine eligibility of the student in the desired course. If a student chooses a course with prerequisite requirements, the student is required to meet the prerequisite requirements for the selected course prior to being able to enroll in that course. This may include taking the appropriate College placement tests or class prerequisite requirements.
In terms of cost, the Dual Enrollment program can be looked at as a reimbursement program. Families will need the up-front funds when signing up for the course but will be reimbursed the cost, as long as the student receives a grade of a "C" or higher at the end of the course. Reach, grants, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education provide tuition for 2 college courses (up to 8 credits) per school year, including required 09 courses, in full or in part. The High School Administration will determine the number of students to be funded each year, as well as the allowable courses in which students will be able to enroll at a college institution. Reach Cyber Charter School will pay for a part or all the tuition, fees, and books, as provided by the reserved funds.
What colleges and universities are partnered with Reach's Dual Enrollment Program?
Reach currently partners with the following colleges and universities around the state to offer dual enrollment opportunities.
- Bucks County Community College
- Cedar Crest College
- Community College of Allegheny County
- Community College of Beaver County
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Harrisburg Area Community College
- Mercyhurst University
- Messiah University
- Montgomery County Community College
- Moravian University
- Northern PA Regional College
Student Testimony
Many of Reach's students have taken part in Reach's Dual Enrollment opportunities and told us what inspired them to participate.
Ben Rohland
"The Dual Enrollment program has provided a smooth transition into college. As I learned in psychology, starting college is a major life stressor and having the opportunity to gain experience beforehand, rather than diving into the deep end, has been an invaluable experience to me.
Ben Rohland is a junior at Reach Cyber Charter School who has successfully taken advantage of the Dual Enrollment Program at Reach Cyber. He decided to try the in-person option of attending a Psychology course at Harrisburg Area Community College. Ben said that coming from cyber learning, he wanted to experience what in-person learning would be like once he entered college. He told us he loved being able to "preview" the learning environment and now feels more excited than ever to take on higher education. Ben completed his Psychology course in the Fall of 2025 and is currently enrolled in two more courses, Nutrition and Biology.
"Part of my decision was financial. You get the Dual Enrollment prices, which are a lot cheaper, even if you're paying for it yourself. I personally want to get my freshman year of college done before I graduate, so it [Dual Enrollment] was a step in the right direction. The other part is I just really love learning."
Moving forward, Ben said he will certainly be taking more Dual Enrollment classes with his hopes of earning as many college credits as possible before graduating. Ben plans to pursue higher education following graduation with hopes of majoring in the STEM field.
Elizabeth Gill
"Dual Enrollment allowed me to kind of dip my toe in the water of what a college course would look like before I leave high school and officially enter the college scene."
Elizabeth Gill is a driven sophomore student at Reach who has already completed one course through the Dual Enrollment program and is currently enrolled in 2 additional courses. She said the ability to "try-out" a college course online, while still earning her required high school credits for graduation, is what motivated her to try the program. She already has her eyes set on the future with plans to study Structural Engineering after she graduates high school. She says the Dual Enrollment program allows her to complete some of her general college education courses ahead of time, making it easier for her to focus on her desired major.
"It's like a 2-in-1 situation. I get to knock out some of my college general education classes while still being in high school. Then when I go to college, I can really focus on my engineering classes."
Elizabeth completed an Introduction to Literature Course offered through Cedar Crest College. She's currently working on a history and finance high school credit through the Dual Enrollment classes of American National Government and Personal Finance offered through Bucks County Community College. Following these classes, Elizabeth was confident she'd be taking even more classes through the Dual Enrollment program.
For more information or questions about our Dual Enrollment Program, you can learn more at https://reachcyber.org/academics/high-school/dual-enrollment or your student can speak with their school counselor.
