Nearly 4 in 10 NC High School Graduates Now Earning College Credit —
And the Numbers Keep Climbing
North Carolina is seeing a record number of high schoolers graduate with college credits in hand. New data from the State Board of Community Colleges reveals that 38% of the 2024–2025 graduating class enrolled in at least one dual enrollment course—an increase of 4,617 students over the previous year. This growth was felt across the board, with participation rising 10% among public school students and 11% in private and home schools.
The volume of coursework also surged, with students enrolling in 257,343 credit-level college courses, a 16% jump from the prior year. Ultimately, 36% of all graduates (42,128 students) earned high school credit through these opportunities. Within the College and Career Promise (CCP) program, 95% of participants successfully earned credit toward graduation. System leaders highlighted CCP as a cornerstone strategy for expanding college access and strengthening North Carolina’s workforce pipeline.
In 2021, 673 Iredell County high school graduates participated in Career & College Promise programs. In 2024, however, that number climbed to 824 graduates participating in Career & College Promise programs which is a 22% increase.