Dual Credit

Dual credit lets you earn high school and college credit at the same time. You can start your college education early by doing college-level work while still in high school. Albuquerque Public Schools works with local colleges to offer dual credit opportunities for high school students.

Dual Credit Courses

APS high school students can take college-level classes at CNM, UNM, or CEC and earn both college and high school elective credit for the same class. By taking dual credit courses, students can experience college-level learning tuition-free and gain credit for the courses completed, helping them explore their interests and future career paths after high school. Three college credits are equivalent to one high school elective credit on the high school transcript.

What are the benefits?

In addition to earning free college credit and high school elective credit at the same time, taking at least one dual-credit course fulfills part of student graduation requirements.
Students also have access to student resources offered by the college (like tutoring, libraries, clubs, etc.)

How much does it cost?

Tuition and registration fees and required textbooks for the class are paid for.
Please note: Students are required to pay the course's class fees. If students elect to take online courses at UNM, the student must pay the fees associated with the course.

To learn more about dual credit classes and to apply, talk with your school counselor and visit these websites:

For some helpful reminders, please check out Dual Credit Reminders.

Get Your Textbooks for Free

Free textbooks are available from the APS Dual Credit Textbook Center. Do not go to the CNM or UNM bookstores for textbooks. Textbooks will be available within a week after you register.

Whom To Contact for Assistance:

If you have any questions or need assistance with dual credit, please reach out to your school counselor.

Additional Important Information:

Students will earn high school elective credits for most dual credit college courses passed on their transcript at their high school. However, they can take Junior and/or Senior year dual credit college math courses in lieu of high school math courses for high school math credit. In addition, if they didn't take NM History as a Freshman in high school, they can take NM History as a dual credit college course in lieu of high school NM History for high school credit. Check with your student's high school counselor for courses that count for these options. All other dual credit college courses taken will earn high school elective credit only.
Make sure the dual credit college class your student is taking is worth 3 college credits. 3 college credits = 1 High School credit on the high school transcript. Some college classes at CNM or UNM are only 1 or 2 college credits, which will be less than 1 high school credit on your student's high school transcript. This will cause a credit discrepancy on your student's high school transcript.
Students will know which dual credit college courses they can take after they take the Accuplacer test (or equivalent placement exam, ACT or SAT) and meet with a College Advisor.
The grade earned in the dual credit college course will be posted on your student's high school transcript and will also be part of their permanent college transcript. This can be detrimental if your student did not do well in the dual credit college class. All college classes remain on the college transcript permanently and low grades can affect your student when they are in college after high school. Always remember that if your student decides not to complete a dual credit college class, they are responsible for dropping the class. Otherwise, the teacher will give them a failing grade and it will be on both their high school and college transcripts permanently.

Please visit the following NM Higher Education Department Website for additional information: Dual Credit

This page was last updated on: June 17, 2024.