Does the Concurrent Enrollment Program Improve Time-To-Degree and Wages?

Colorado has invested significantly in the state’s Concurrent Enrollment Program, which provides high school students the opportunity to enroll tuition-free in postsecondary courses and earn college credits that are transferable to any Colorado public university. Concurrent enrollment is seen as a strategy for helping Colorado meet its goal of 66 percent postsecondary credential attainment among adults age 25-34 by 2025. Using data from the Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and the National Student Clearinghouse, this study serves to inform the state’s understanding of the Concurrent Enrollment Program as a driver of efficiency in terms of on-time credential completion and improved earnings. Governor Polis champions concurrent enrollment as an effective strategy that levels the playing field. This project provides empirical evidence to guide the “smart policy tweaks” the Governor recognizes will take place as Colorado scales-up its Concurrent Enrollment Program.