From Raw Data to Real Insight: NACEP’s Analysis of IPEDS First Dual Enrollment Reporting

August 11, 2025 — Chapel Hill, NC — Dual enrollment is reshaping the pathway from high school to college, and now, for the first time, the field has data that provides a sweeping view of the national landscape. The National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) has released an in-depth analysis revealing the size, scope, and diversity of these programs across the country.

Dual Enrollment by the Numbers offers key insights from the first national reporting on dual enrollment participation, based on NACEP’s analysis of preliminary 2022–2023 data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

“As the sole national organization leading the charge for quality dual enrollment, we know the field needs more than anecdotes, it needs clear, actionable data,” said Amy Williams, Executive Director of NACEP. “This analysis shows how program size, participation, demographics, and access vary from coast to coast, giving practitioners and policymakers the context they need to see their work within a diverse national landscape. That kind of insight is a game-changer for the field.”

Dual Enrollment by the Numbers provides a complex, compelling picture of the national reach and local variation of dual enrollment programs, equipping practitioners and policymakers with insights drawn from the nearly 2.5 million college enrollments by high school students in 2022-23.

Key Findings from NACEP’s Analysis

• No Longer Niche: Dual enrollment is an increasingly visible part of higher education, with high school students accounting for about one in ten college enrollments overall and one in five community college enrollments.  
• Program Size and Reach: Programs average about 1,000 students, with 85% serving 2000 or fewer. 
• Institutional Enrollment Impact: At some colleges, dual enrollment students make up less than 10% of enrollment; at others, they exceed 50%. 
• State Variations:  The report maps participation by state as a share of high school, overall undergraduate, and community college enrollment.  
• NACEP’s National Footprint: More than half (52%) of all dual enrollment students in the data participated through programs aligned with national best practices as part of the NACEP community, with one in five enrolled in a NACEP-accredited program, the gold standard for program quality.

A Foundation for the Future

This analysis marks a new chapter for the field, establishing a shared national baseline for dual enrollment and setting the stage for data-driven efforts to expand access, advance equity, and strengthen alignment with national program quality standards.