What is concurrent credit, and why does it matter?
For thousands of Arkansas high school students, the path to college starts long before graduation day. Concurrent enrollment lets students earn both high school and college credit at the same time, fast-tracking their path to college completion.
The ACCESS Act of 2025 added even more value. High school students who complete a college-level technical certificate or associate degree now earn a special diploma designation that increases scholarship opportunities. For students and families, that means real savings in both time and money in their college pursuits. Students are taking notice. In 2026, 20,460 students were enrolled in one or more concurrent courses at an Arkansas community college, up 58.6% over the past five years.
Changing Perceptions, Building Confidence
How do those students actually experience their college coursework? To find out, ACC coordinated statewide participation in the Dual Enrollment Survey of Student Engagement (DESSE) in Spring 2026. Administered by the Center for Community College Student Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin, DESSE is a national survey designed for high school students taking college-level classes.
Fifteen Arkansas community colleges took part, and 3,136 concurrent students shared their perspectives. Those responses join a national cohort of 58 colleges across 12 states.
The headline finding is clear: community colleges are making a real difference for concurrent students.
95% said they would recommend their community college.
91% said their concurrent coursework increased their confidence that they will succeed after high school graduation.
75% plan to attend a university or community college after high school.
59% said their perception of attending a community college improved, and another 15% already held a very positive view before enrolling.
Looking Ahead
These survey results compel ACC to advocate for stronger student support, expanded access, and a strong start for every concurrent student. We need our State’s concurrent stakeholders and partners to help:
Provide the best possible academic and career advising. Growing interest in concurrent enrollment calls for a stronger college presence in partner high schools, through virtual or in-person services coordinated with high school counselors. Without that support, students risk taking college courses that don’t fit their degree plan or that they are not prepared for. Either can jeopardize future college GPA, admission status, and financial aid eligibility.
Increase the pipeline of qualified concurrent faculty. Students deserve a challenging, supportive learning environment that meets college-level requirements. A recent pilot program is already helping: The Arkansas Division of Higher Education, Arkansas State University-Beebe, and the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators developed a training program to increase the number of qualified concurrent instructors in Arkansas high schools. Participating teachers received subject-specific training aligned with Arkansas Course Transfer System (ACTS) courses and college accreditation standards.
Secure the state funding community colleges need to serve concurrent students. Arkansas’s lottery-funded concurrent scholarship covers, on average, half of the full cost community colleges incur to deliver concurrent academic and supportive services. Community colleges need additional state funding, either through an increased lottery scholarship or another source, to maintain both access and quality.
These survey results affirm what Arkansas community colleges have long believed: concurrent enrollment opens doors. It builds confidence, shifts perceptions, and sets students on a path toward continued education. When Arkansas invests in concurrent enrollment, it invests in a stronger educational pipeline, a more skilled workforce, and a more prosperous future for all Arkansans.