By Randiah Camille Green
March 31, 2026
This sponsored story was originally published by Outlier Media

This story was written by Randiah Camille Green and created in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. It is part of a year-long series focusing on programs and pathways to good paying jobs and careers in Detroit.

All high schools in Michigan are required to allow their students to take college courses for credit toward a higher degree. This opportunity for dual enrollment gives young people a head start in pursuing higher education, lessening the financial burden on parents, as students can take these classes free of charge. However, only about seven percent of students participate in dual-enrollment programs, across the entire state. 

“They can get their degree faster, and it’s cheaper because the student is paying nothing. If you can take 30 credits, that’s half an associate’s degree,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN).

MCAN is working to improve college readiness, participation, and completion, in accordance with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s push to increase the percentage of Michigan residents with post-secondary certificates or degrees to 60% by the year 2030. Part of this work includes boosting dual enrollment and working on policy reform to drive more interest in the program. 

In 2023, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Ballmer Group dedicated more than $30 million to the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Detroit Drives Degrees Community College Collaborative (D3C3). The D3C3 initiative granted seven Southeast Michigan community colleges funds to increase access and enrollment for high school students. 

Henry Ford College (HFC), one of the participating institutions, has roughly 2,800 dual-enrolled high school students, which comprises more than 20% of its total enrollment. HFC also partners with high schools to host college classes onsite, removing transportation as a barrier to access. 

“It is a significant savings for families for students to dual enroll. Plus, students who dual enroll are far more likely to start college right after high school and continue towards getting their certificate or associate’s degree,” said HFC Interim President Lori Gonko. “Less than 60% of high school graduates are enrolling in college that next fall after graduation, in Michigan, so we are invested in doing everything we can do to help bridge that gap and get students already in the pipeline.”

In addition to traditional dual enrollment, where high school students are allowed to take up to 10 classes or 30 credits, HFC also offers the Henry Ford Early College model. Students interested in careers in health care, manufacturing, and education can graduate with their high school diploma, associate degree, and certification in an allied health profession, all in five years. The school has roughly 400 students in the early college program.

“We see almost a 100% completion rate for getting the associate’s degree after five years,” Gonko said. “We have students who graduate from that program at 19 years old.”

Detroit students have even more pathways to post-secondary education with the Detroit Promise scholarship. This program covers the cost of tuition at participating community colleges, universities, or trade schools, for any student who has graduated from a high school within the city of Detroit, after financial aid is applied. They also receive $50 a month to use for books, transportation, or other needs, as an incentive for meeting with a campus coach.

Detroit Promise students are assigned the coach that they meet with twice monthly, to help them navigate college life and resources. 

“It allows students that safe space to say, ‘This is what I’m struggling with.’ The coach is there to say, ‘I’ve got some resources for you with transportation, tutoring, or whatever they may need,’” Gonko said. “We have a space here that is specifically for Detroit Promise students… for them to study and gather surrounded by their peers. They’re part of a community and there are so many studies out there that show that belonging and community contribute to success.”

HFC has the highest number of Detroit Promise students of Southeast Michigan’s community colleges, with roughly 300 students participating currently.

Oakland Community College (OCC) also participates in the Detroit Promise program, with 121 students enrolled. The college is educating students in similar programs for Hazel Park and Pontiac students as well. 

OCC’s Interim Provost Jolene Chapman said the college has doubled its dual-enrollment population, from 800 students to 1,600 in the past few years.

“We have people in place and a strong office that values those relationships with our high schools, and [that] works really hard with the high schools to try to ensure that dual-enrollment students and their parents are served, that it’s a smooth process, and that students are successful,” Chapman said.

The college has several people in place to give dual-enrolled students the best chance for success on campus, including a dual-enrollment navigator and success coach.

The dual-enrollment navigator goes to high schools and offers information sessions to counselors, students, and parents to ensure they are aware of the opportunities available at OCC, while the success coach helps students acclimate to college life.

Beyond dual enrollment, OCC also offers an early college program similar to HFC’s. It is promoted as “a multi-year program combining high school graduation with an OCC associate degree in grade 13.” 

“If you want to get a job coming out of that, you can do that. If you want to go to a four-year school and transfer the credits, you can do that,” Joseph Petrosky, vice chancellor for economic and workforce development at OCC, explained about the program. 

While dual enrollment is technically available to all Michigan high school students under the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act, and the Career and Technical Preparation Act, MCAN is working to address requirements that may deter some students from taking advantage of the opportunity. This includes proposing policy changes, like removing the 10 class cap, as well as a policy that means families can be charged for courses if students fail them. Fewins-Bliss says MCAN also wants to get rid of the SAT and ACT requirements. 

“Current law relies on SAT and ACT scores for eligibility, and we know those things don’t necessarily connect. Even if they’re not excelling in SAT and ACT, they still could excel in college,” he said. “For students who don’t think they’re college material, when they take a dual-enrollment course and pass, they learn that they are ready; they can do it. It has a morale change for the student and family.”

Ultimately, for families that are unsure about dual enrollment, Fewins-Bliss advises that it provides an opportunity for their children to explore college and career paths before committing fully, and that it also saves money in the long run. 

Families interested in dual enrollment are encouraged to speak with their student’s high school counselor or principal or to reach out to a nearby community college to explore their options.

To learn more about programs and pathways to good paying jobs and careers in Detroit, Highland Park, and Hamtramck, visit: https://outliermedia.org/tag/pathways-to-good-paying-jobs/