Walters State Dual Enrollment Students See 92% Success Rate
March 24, 2026
Program Gives College-Bound Students Headstart on College
Walters State’s Dual Enrollment Program is proving to be a good investment of time
for area high school students.
The program, which allows high school students to earn credit for both high school
and college with one class, boasts a 92% success rate with 2,257 students enrolled
during fall semester 2025, the last full semester with data available. In that one
semester, 11,875 college credit hours were awarded to high school students.
“The high success rate is likely due to a combination of factors,” said Brian O’Dell,
director of K-12 Partnerships and Teaching Centers. “Our faculty members are dedicated
to teaching and to working one-on-one with students. We have great students at all
of our area high schools, and students have access to the same resources available
to our regular, full-time students.”
Those resources include the college’s library, college clubs and activities, and counseling
services.
Senior Katelyn Faircloth has taken four dual enrollment courses in high school. Despite
having an excellent high grade point average, she was nervous about taking college
classes.
“I was nervous about taking college classes,” Faircloth said. “The classes are not
easy, and sometimes they require more time. Now, I am confident about going to college.”
While she has enjoyed all of her classes, she does admit that one advantage of dual
enrollment is that she will only have to study poetry once, instead of the subject
being part of her high school senior English and part of her freshman college courses.
She encourages high school students thinking about college to take a dual enrollment
class.
“If you think you might want to go to college but are not sure, take a dual enrollment
course. My professors have been great, and they’re always helpful. If you know you’re
going to college, dual enrollment saves you both time and money.”
Faircloth has paid for her classes through Tennessee’s Dual Enrollment Grant. This
grant has the potential to pay tuition for up to five classes. After those classes,
partial grants are available for additional courses.
O’Dell said some students take classes at their high school while others take classes
online or at a Walters State campus. Classes offered at high schools are usually general
education classes. These classes are required of almost all college students, regardless
of major.
“Good examples of general education courses are English, history, mathematics, psychology,
and speech,” O’Dell said.
Classes come with an extra advantage for students with plans to attend Walters State
after high school. Students with at least 12 credit hours of dual enrollment with
a 3.0 GPA in those classes are eligible for the Senators Scholar Dual Enrollment Award.
This guaranteed scholarship is worth up to $1,000 per semester.
Program Enrollment for fall semester is now open. Students should check with their high school guidance counselors for more information. Parents may contact O’Dell at Brian.OdellFREEWS or visit https://go.ws.edu/47boSgM.