Where to Place Dual Enrollment Courses on the Transcript
List dual enrollment courses in the same year-by-year course list as all other courses. Do not create a separate section — integrated placement shows that college coursework was part of the student's regular academic program, not a supplement.
In the course name column, add a clear notation: (DE) or (Dual Enrollment — [College Name]). Example: English Composition I (DE — Lone Star College)
What Grade to Use
Use the grade the college assigned — do not change it. If the college assigned a B+, list B+ on your transcript. The college transcript is the authoritative record; your transcript should match it exactly. Any discrepancy between the two will be caught and will raise credibility questions.
Credit Values: College Credits vs. Carnegie Units
College courses are measured in semester credit hours, not Carnegie units. The conversion is: 1 college semester credit hour ≈ 0.17 Carnegie units, meaning a typical 3-credit college course equals approximately 0.5 Carnegie units on a high school transcript.
However, most homeschool families (and most colleges reviewing homeschool transcripts) list dual enrollment courses at 1.0 Carnegie unit for a standard 3-credit college course. This is widely accepted practice. Be consistent and note your conversion method on the school profile page.
Including Dual Enrollment in GPA Calculations
Yes — include dual enrollment grades in your homeschool GPA calculation. They are legitimate high school courses and should be weighted accordingly. Many families weight dual enrollment courses at the AP level (+1.0 quality point boost) since they are genuine college courses. Include this weighting explanation on the school profile page.
The Two-Transcript Process for College Applications
When your student applies to four-year colleges, they submit:
- Your homeschool transcript (listing all courses including dual enrollment with DE notation)
- An official college transcript sent directly from the community college registrar to each four-year college
Instruct your student to request official transcripts from the community college well before application deadlines — registrar offices can take 1–3 weeks during busy periods. Many colleges now use Parchment or National Student Clearinghouse for electronic transcript delivery.
Sample Transcript Entry
| Course Name | Year | Credits | Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Composition I (DE) | 11th | 1.0 | A | Lone Star College · ENGL 1301 |
| U.S. Government (DE) | 11th | 1.0 | B+ | Lone Star College · GOVT 2305 |
The course number (ENGL 1301) is optional but helpful — it allows the receiving college to directly match the entry to the official college transcript.
A "W" (withdrawal) will appear on the college transcript. You are not required to list it on your homeschool transcript — withdrawals before the drop deadline typically do not appear as a grade. However, if the withdrawal occurs after the official drop date and appears as a "W" or "WF" (withdrawal/failing) on the college record, the college's official transcript will show it. Do not try to hide it — admissions offices receive the official college transcript and will see it. Address a late withdrawal in the additional information section of the college application if relevant.