ASU’s dual enrollment program gains momentum, new partners

By the numbers:

• 550+ high schools and organizations partnered with Accelerate ASU
• 29,000 students enrolled in dual enrollment since launch
• 11,000+ students enrolled in 2025

Melanie Depray Learst knew the students in her school district could benefit from dual enrollment. But for many students, a lack of reliable transportation options made commuting off-campus a challenge.

In 2025, Depray Learst discovered Accelerate ASU, which offers flexible dual enrollment courses that students could access in their normal classrooms — with in-person support from their high school teachers. By the fall, Westwood Community School District in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, where Depray Learst serves as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, created a pilot program with Accelerate ASU at Robichaud High School.

Robichaud High School is one of more than 550 Accelerate ASU partner schools across the world who have enrolled in ASU’s accessible dual enrollment courses since the program’s launch.

Accelerate ASU’s program serves the needs of a diverse set of learners, including students at public schools like Robichaud, students enrolled in International Baccalaureate programs, neurodivergent students at specialized schools such as Phoenix’s Gateway Academy and many more.

With enrollment increasing, Accelerate ASU is gaining momentum across the United States and beyond, a sign of the global need for an affordable, personalized pathway to college credit. 

Focusing on student needs

Accelerate ASU is one of the nation’s largest university dual enrollment providers, offering students over 75 Universal Learner Courses taught by ASU faculty. With courses available in subjects including STEM, the humanities and business, students face a low barrier to enrollment, with no transcript or standardized test scores required to apply. 

After viewing their final course grades, students have the choice to add the course to their transcript or not — bringing peace of mind to teens trying college-level courses for the first time. 

Accelerate ASU’s program is designed to adapt to the specific needs of partner schools and students, allowing a diverse set of 550+ partner schools and organizations to thrive as dual enrollment providers. From public high schools and non-profits, private schools, and after school programs, Accelerate ASU reaches populations that other dual enrollment programs traditionally haven’t been able to reach.

“ASU really stood out above the rest, because they were really willing to work with us, work with our student population. There was no judging at all on ASU’s behalf,” said Robin Sweet, CEO and executive director of partner school Gateway Academy. “Everybody made themselves accessible to us — which, in this day and age, that’s pretty special.”

To Scott Weatherford, Associate Vice President of Universal Pathways at ASU, putting student needs first is a priority.

“At ASU, we believe opportunity should start early and show up often. Our dual enrollment model maintains the full rigor of our university curriculum while expanding access for high school students through intentional design and academic support. The result is students who don’t just earn credits early — they gain the confidence that comes from succeeding in authentic college coursework.”

A program gaining momentum

During the 2024-2025 school year, Accelerate ASU served more than 9,000 students. Now, only midway through the 2025-2026 school year, Accelerate has already surpassed that number — bringing the total number of high school students served by the program since launch up to more than 29,000. 

High school student Saige, who is a member of Homeschooling for College Credit, an Accelerate ASU partner organization, appreciates the rigor and flexibility of ASU’s dual enrollment program during her busy schedule.

“Throughout my time using ASU’s [Universal Learner Courses], I have enjoyed its level of quality and convenience,” she says. “ASU’s in-class platform is well organized and easily accessible, whether you are checking your grades or looking on your calendar for upcoming deadlines. The classes themselves are well paced and taught by some of the best professors in their fields.”

At Creation Village World School, an International Baccalaureate (IB) Candidate School in Florida, 11th and 12th graders explore career paths through ASU’s dual enrollment program.

Jacques Rademan, who leads the IB Career-related Programme at Creation Village, has seen the positive impact of ASU’s courses on his students — regardless of background.

“One of my 11th-grade students in the Business track has recently moved to the US and English is his second language,” says Rademan. “[Accelerate ASU] has helped to build his confidence and provided another venue for learning at his pace, which is really important for his success.” 

Accelerate ASU partners with the IB Program as a Career-related Programme provider, giving students the chance to explore different career paths and gain real-world skills. Since launch, 28 IB schools have become partners, benefiting from the breadth and rigor of ASU’s programs offered to students in a streamlined format. 

Every Student, Every Path: Accelerate Partner Conference

In March 2026, educators from Accelerate partner schools around the globe will come together for the second annual Accelerate ASU Partner Conference. 

With the theme Every Student, Every Path, the conference will build on progress made at last year’s inaugural summit — allowing educators to share wins and refine their schools’ approaches to dual enrollment, all with the goal of bringing dual enrollment to more students.

James Arndt, principal of Accelerate ASU partner Camelback High School in Phoenix, will deliver the conference’s keynote address. 

Arndt envisions his keynote address at the Accelerate ASU Partner Conference as an urgent call to action to educators in the interest of better serving high school students.

“I’m going to really challenge people to disrupt the systems that don’t serve every kid,” says Arndt. “ASU’s whole ethos is: ‘We pride ourselves not on who we exclude, but who we include.’ I want to follow that same theme and message into how we [offer] rigorous courses….[The thinking] used to be that we don’t have the staff, we don’t have the resources — but with Accelerate ASU, that’s just not true. The resource is right there that makes it possible, so quit making excuses. Let’s disrupt the systems that are not serving every kid and make college accessible now.”

Highlights of the conference include opportunities to create knowledge and community, with Day One sessions including:

• Voices from the field
  • Students, teachers and school leaders speak about how Accelerate ASU is shifting beliefs about what’s possible
• College advising strategies that work
  • Experienced counselors share practical college-advising systems to help students navigate multiple postsecondary pathways 
• Facilitation of ULCs into high school classrooms
  • Partner educators discuss strategies for integrating ULCs into the classroom, including pacing, engagement and tracking

On Day Two of the conference, educators will focus on building capacity to apply their new knowledge, with sessions including:

• Lessons learned from veteran partners
  • Dual-enrollment educators share early implementation pitfalls, mindset shifts and systems that drive strong completion and persistence 
• From data to action
  • Participants learn to turn dual enrollment data into action, using key indicators to monitor progress, promote equity and strengthen student outcomes
• Beyond labels: real strategies for diverse learners
  • Leaders from ASU and partner schools share concrete classroom moves that help students with IEPs/504s build readiness and confidence in navigating ULCs

To Audrey Moreno, Senior Director of Accelerate ASU, the goals of the Partner Conference fall in line with ASU’s larger charter.

“For us, ‘Every Student, Every Path’ is a commitment,” says Moreno. “Too often, access to college credit depends on zip code or existing systems rather than student potential. This conference is about helping educators rethink who dual enrollment is really designed for — and giving them practical strategies to expand access, not just for the students who already see themselves as college-bound, but for every student in every classroom.”

To follow along during the conference, visit Accelerate ASU on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.