For a lot of high school students, college feels far away. In reality, it’s right around the corner. One semester, students are attending AP classes and club meetings; the next, they’re trying to imagine a whole new level of independence. This can be an overwhelming transition.
That’s where college credit summer programs for high schoolers come in. Summer programs for teens let high school students try that next step in a focused, short-term way.
Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses let students take that next step so they can experience a college setting. Your student won’t just visit campus or sit in on a class. They will enroll in an actual Tufts course, learn from Tufts faculty, and earn real credit on an official Tufts transcript.
It’s a direct, hands-on way for high school students to see what college academics feel like and to prove to themselves (and future admissions committees) that they’re ready.
What Is Dual Enrollment?
Dual enrollment is when high school students take college courses and earn college credit before they graduate from high school.
In many cases, the same course can count toward both college credit and high school requirements. Instead of studying all year for a single exam, students earn their grade through regular coursework just like any other college student. Check with your high school to confirm credit approval.
How Is Dual Enrollment Different from AP or IB Courses?
This looks different from AP, IB, or other advanced classes. With AP or IB, students are preparing for a standardized exam that colleges may or may not grant credit for, depending on the score and their policies.
With dual enrollment, students are enrolled in the college itself. This means you get a taste of college, including a faster pace and high expectations. Students receive a university transcript, a course title, a professor’s name, and a final grade.
When Can You Take Dual Enrollment Courses?
Tufts Pre-College Programs Dual Enrollment Courses are for high school students currently enrolled in grades 11 and 12. Students must be at least 16 years old by the start of the course.
Some high school students take dual enrollment courses during the school year. Others focus on summer college credits for high schoolers, when their schedule is more flexible.
In either case, students don’t have to wait for graduation to start their college academic story.
Why Participate in College Credit Summer Programs for High Schoolers?
So why would your teen make time over the summer for a college course? For many students, college credit summer programs for high schoolers are less about “checking a box” and more about discovering who they are as learners.
A summer dual enrollment course can help students:
1. Get a Head Start
Students can knock out an introductory course or a general education requirement before setting foot on a college campus. That can give them more room later for advanced electives, research, or study abroad.
2. Strengthen Your College Application
When admissions readers see that students have taken and succeeded in a real college class, it’ll be clear that they can handle the level of reading, writing, lab work, or problem sets they expect.
3. Explore Possible Majors
Maybe your teen is curious about engineering but doesn’t want to commit to a four-year path without testing it out. Or they love art and want to know what studio courses in college really feel like. Summer programs for teens that carry credit let students experiment with lower risk and high insight.
4. Build Confidence and Independence
Managing a college syllabus, talking with a professor, and keeping up with assignments on your own timeline are big steps. Practicing those skills in a short, structured summer term makes the transition to college feel less intimidating.
5. Potentially Save Time and Money
If your credits transfer or help you place into higher-level courses, you might need fewer classes to graduate. That can translate into financial savings. But even when summer college credits for high schoolers don’t transfer perfectly, the experience itself can still pay off in readiness and options.
How Do Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses Work?
Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses are for high school students who are ready for more than their current high school schedule offers.
This doesn’t mean students are thrown into a huge lecture hall with no support. Instead, they step into a smaller, focused class where faculty know they’re teaching rising college students, not enrolled undergrads (yet).
The process is simple. Students register for specific classes, and once they’re in, they’re treated like college students. They’ll have a syllabus, assignments, deadlines, and feedback from their professor.
Many high school students choose to attend college credit summer programs for high schoolers because summer schedules leave more room for this kind of deep work. Others may enroll during the academic year. In both cases, courses are age-appropriate in structure and support, without lowering college-level expectations.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Different Tufts Dual Enrollment Paths
Tufts Dual Enrollment gives high school students two different ways to earn credit, so families can choose what feels right.
- Learn with Tufts undergraduates: In this path, students are placed in real Tufts classes. The content aligns with what Tufts undergraduates take, whether that’s an introductory engineering course, a studio class through the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts (SMFA), or a foundational social science class. Your teen is part of the broader Tufts classroom community, with support from the Pre-College team to help them navigate.
- Learn with Tufts Pre-College Peers: This path is specifically designed for high school students and is offered through Tufts Pre-College Programs. These dual enrollment courses can still provide Tufts credit and are taught by Tufts faculty, but the cohort is all high schoolers, and the structure is tailored to their level.
Both paths lead to official Tufts credit on a transcript. The difference is in who’s in the room with your teen and how the learning environment is structured. Families can choose the option that best matches their teen’s comfort level, goals, and readiness.
Hands-on Learning
Tufts emphasizes learning by doing. That means labs, studio projects, simulations, or seminar-style discussions. Students may be suturing in medical simulation labs, experimenting in real studios, or producing projects they can show in a portfolio.
Dual enrollment offerings follow the same approach: your teen performs real hands-on work in Tufts classrooms.
Access to Campus Resources
Depending on the course format, your teen might use Tufts libraries, labs, studios, and online learning platforms. Students aren’t just paying a quick “visit” to Tufts. They’re using the tools and environments that undergraduates use, on a scale that feels manageable for high schoolers.
Independence with Guidance
Tufts Pre-College Programs are built around structured independence. That means students have space to practice adult skills like time management, self-advocacy, and navigating campus or online systems with guidance nearby.
Staff and instructors expect questions and welcome students who are still learning to ask for what they need.
Official Tufts University Credit for High School Students
When it comes to credit, Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses carry official Tufts University credit. Those credits show up on a Tufts transcript and can be applied in several ways.
They may eventually apply toward a Tufts degree if you decide to enroll here. They may transfer to other institutions, depending on those schools’ policies. Or they may simply show future colleges that your teen has not only tried college-level work, but has already succeeded at it.
Families are encouraged to talk with target colleges about how Tufts pre-matriculation credits are evaluated.
“Spending two weeks at Tufts for the International Relations pre-college program was an unforgettable experience. Living on campus and diving into global topics every day made me feel like a real college student.” —Tufts Pre-College Program Student
Is a Dual Enrollment Program Right for Your Teen?
Not every student needs to rush into college-level work. Some will benefit more from non-credit, lower-pressure exploratory summer programs for teens. But for the right teen, dual enrollment can be transformative.
It’s often a strong fit if your student:
- Is doing well in challenging high school courses and looking for more depth.
- Gets curious, not discouraged, when the work gets harder.
- Wants to see what a real college class feels like before committing to a major or particular school.
- Is ready to manage more independence (with adults nearby only when they need support).
If your teen is excited about sitting in a seminar, building a project in a studio, or solving problems in an engineering lab, and wants to earn actual credit for it, Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses can give them that experience. College credit summer programs for high schoolers can help them find the right college fit.
For some students, the result is simple. “Yes, this fits. This is what I want next.” For others, the takeaway is just as valuable. They get clarity about what kind of environment or pace will work best for them.
How to Get Started with Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses
If Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses sound like the right next step, the process is straightforward:
- Pick your path: Decide whether your teen is more excited to learn with Tufts undergraduates in regular Tufts courses or with pre-college peers in offerings specifically for high school students.
- Browse Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses: Once you have a path in mind, explore Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses that match your teen’s interests and readiness on the Tufts Dual Enrollment Courses page.
Look closely at the descriptions, note any prerequisites, and check application or registration deadlines. Then, talk with a school counselor or advisor about how these college credit summer programs for high schoolers can fit into your teen's broader plan.
Is your teen ready to get ahead on requirements or test out a specific major and college experience?
Try Tufts on Your Terms:
