Dual Credit Enrollment : A Multiyear Study of Gender and Ethnic Differences

Abstract EN

In this investigation, we ascertained the extent to which differences were present in dual credit enrollment by gender and by ethnicity for students (n>150,000) enrolled in a Texas community college from the 2005-2006 through the 2011-2012 academic years.

Statistical analyses revealed an increase in the numbers (i.e., from 3,069 to 3,664) and percentages (i.e., from 12.2% to 19.5%) of students who were enrolled in dual credit courses over the time period analyzed.

Moreover, higher percentages of women (i.e., 20.8% in the most recent academic year) had enrolled in dual credit courses while in high school than men (i.e., 17.9% in the most recent academic year).

Differences were also present as a function of ethnicity, with 33.1% Asian, 25.3% White, 17.4% Hispanic, and 7.5% Black students having been enrolled in dual credit in the most recent academic year.

Differences were also revealed by gender for Hispanic and White students, but not for Asian and Black students.

Implications of our findings are discussed.