MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University student Maddy Williams, a senior School of Journalism and Strategic Media major in the College of Media and Entertainment, is graduating almost a full year early because of the various dual enrollment classes she took as a Blackman High School student. 

Williams reflects MTSU’s rising dual enrollment student population, with a record 1,450 students signed up for the fall 2023 semester. The students who took dual enrollment classes over the last few years are now close to graduating college and realizing how big of a boost dual enrollment gave them.

With dual enrollment, high school students can get a head start by taking MTSU courses for college credit at little to no cost. Currently, MTSU partners with 16 area high schools in the grant-based program.

“I was in the Blackman Collegiate Academy, and they encouraged all of us to take upper-level courses, including dual enrollment courses,” Williams said. “So I started to do my research and figured out what credits would be the best for what I wanted to study.” 

Williams took five dual enrollment courses before graduating from Blackman in 2021. At the time, that was above the maximum allowed by state guidelines for the Dual Enrollment Grant, but Williams used the HOPE Scholarship to pay for the other courses she took. 

Now, the Dual Enrollment Grant covers a student’s first five classes. After those five, each additional course costs $100 per credit hour. Students must apply for the grant each academic year.

“I knew what my strengths were as a student,” Williams said. “I did not want to take college algebra while at MTSU. I’ve never loved math, and I knew if I could go ahead and get that out of the way it would be to my advantage.”

In addition to the five dual enrollment courses, she tested out of two English courses and received three more credits from an AP psychology course. In total, Williams came to MTSU with 24 hours of college credit. 

Williams said she was able to balance a busy schedule that included classes, extracurriculars, work, and a social life because of those credit hours she earned in high school.

“Because of dual enrollment, I never had to take more than 12 or 13 hours a semester,” Williams said. “I did take a summer class here and there, but I was so thankful I never had to take a heavy course load and still managed to graduate early.” 

‘Huge financial benefit’

Saving time and money are two of the biggest benefits of the dual enrollment program, says Niki Morris, the program’s administrative assistant. 

“I have heard firsthand accounts from students and their parents of how this has been a huge financial benefit,” said Morris, who has worked in Dual Enrollment for seven years. “Dual enrollment has saved these students a lot of time in college, allowing them to be ahead of the game when it comes to college graduation and with less money owed at the end of it all.”

Williams encourages any high school students considering dual enrollment to take advantage of the opportunity. 

“I was going to be taking these classes eventually anyway,” she said. “I felt like I should have just taken it at the college level, and I am so glad I did.” 

Williams said the MTSU faculty and staff were accommodating and always willing to answer questions when she needed help, which helped her get used to the college experience.

Morris agreed, adding that she’s spoken to many parents and students who feel more confident about starting college after their experience with dual enrollment.

“The parents are most appreciative of the hands-on approach we offer, helping them get through a process that can seem very overwhelming and frustrating,” Morris said. “Parents and students alike have mentioned feeling more confident with the admissions processes and while taking their classes after leaving dual enrollment.”

While many of Williams’ high school classmates are on track to finish their bachelor’s degrees in May of 2025, she’ll walk across the Murphy Center stage this August thanks to her dual enrollment credits.

As a journalism student, Williams spends time working for MTSU’s Division of Marketing and Communications as well as the student-run digital media outlet Sidelines, where she is the social media manager. 

“I’ve been trying to fill my resumé before I graduate,” she said. “I am just doing all the things right now.” 

Williams said she hopes to find a career in marketing, especially social media marketing. She knows it’s a competitive industry but trusts the experience she has gained at MTSU will open the right professional doors for her.

To inquire about the Dual Enrollment process, call 615-898-5246 or visit mtsu.edu/dualenrollment.

— Hunter Patterson (Hunter.Patterson@mtsu.edu)