Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment

Two students at a computer

Salem State University proudly participates in the Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership, with a commitment to expanding college access—particularly for qualified students who may be the first in their family to attend college or who come from low-income backgrounds.

This program allows eligible Massachusetts high school students to enroll in college-level courses and earn both high school and college credit at the same time.

Students accepted into Salem State’s Dual Enrollment program will have tuition and fees waived for one course per semester. Students are responsible for the cost of textbooks, transportation and any required instructional materials. Additional courses, if approved, will be at the student’s expense.

Student Eligibility

Town/Location Eligibility

Students in grades 10-12 or at least 15 years of age at the start of the semester are eligible for the Salem State Dual Enrollment program if they meet one of the following criteria: Students currently enrolled in a Massachusetts secondary school (public or private) and who live in one of the following towns: Chelsea, Danvers, Everett, Gloucester, Haverhill, Lynn, Malden, Peabody, Revere, Rockport, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Wakefield, or Winthrop.

or 

Essex County Expansion: Eligibility includes all high schools located within Essex County. Each of these schools may enroll up to five students per semester in the program. A single guidance counselor should be designated to review applications of all interested students and select five to submit, keeping in mind the priority of serving students who are underrepresented in higher education. 

Note for home-schooled students: If you are applying through the Essex County Expansion, your application must be submitted by a high school guidance counselor. This means you must be selected as one of the five students your local high school is permitted to nominate each semester.

Academic Eligibility

  • A minimum high school grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 is required to participate
  • Approval from the student’s guidance counselor/school official is required (on the application)
  • An overall college GPA of 2.0 or higher (for Salem State) is required to remain eligible for dual enrollment participation in subsequent semester(s) 

Students who do not meet the above requirements may still enroll at Salem State by registering and paying costs on their own.

2026-2027 Dual Enrollment

The Dual Enrollment program is only eligible for day courses during fall and spring semesters; however, students may still enroll in Salem State summer courses by registering and paying the costs as a non-matriculated student. View a full listing of classes and tuition and fees. 

Fall 2026 Deadlines 

Fall 2026 Dual Enrollment applications will be reviewed starting June 22, 2026, with confirmations to follow. The first day of class for the Fall 2026 semester is September 2, 2026. 

Applications will not be processed after SSU classes have started. For Fall 2026 , applications must be submitted by September 1.

Please continue to check your email to be aware of which course you have been registered for. You will receive a confirmation email with all the necessary information to begin the semester.

How to Apply

  1. Schedule an appointment with your high school guidance counselor to discuss Dual Enrollment (high school approval required)
  2. Review the eligible course options and identify at least three courses in which you have interest (list on the application in order of preference). Note that only day courses are eligible, not continuing education courses.
  3. Print and complete the Dual Enrollment authorization form, including student, parent/guardian and guidance counselor signature.
  4. With your guidance counselor, complete the Dual Enrollment application. You'll upload your signed authorization sheet and your official high school transcripts with your application.
  5. Notification of a student’s registration for classes will be sent via email to both the student and their guidance counselor.  
  6. Prior to the start of the academic semester, students are required to attend a Dual Enrollment Orientation.

Placement into the dual enrollment program, or any specific courses, is not guaranteed. At the end of the semester, an official Salem State transcript will be sent directly to the guidance counselor for their review and appropriate action.  Students may separately request their own official transcript through their Navigator account.

The student's high school reserves the right to sanction or not sanction an applicant's participation in the program. Salem State has the right to discontinue a student's participation in the Dual Enrollment program. Acceptance into the Dual Enrollment program does not constitute admission into a Salem State degree program. Courses not meeting minimum enrollments may be cancelled.

Course Selection

Prospective Dual Enrollment students are encouraged to meet with an advisor to discuss the program and review course options. To schedule an advising appointment, email dualenrollment@salemstate.edu. You can expect a response within 24–48 business hours.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education encourages students to select courses that are easily transferable—specifically those that fall under the MassTransfer Gen Ed Foundation or are within the fields of computer science, technology or engineering. Physical activity and developmental courses (e.g., MAT 090 College Algebra) are not covered by the CDEP program.

Course Eligibility

To qualify for the Dual Enrollment program, a course must:

  • Be a 100- or 200-level, credit-bearing college course
  • Count for at least three credit hours

First Year Seminar and Honors-level courses are not eligible.
Some courses may have prerequisite requirements.
Students are responsible for payment if enrolling in additional courses beyond the one covered by the program.

Class Modalities

There are several modes of instruction listed, but the ones to search for are:  

  • In-Person: These classes meet face-to-face. All instruction occurs in a designated campus location (classroom) during regularly scheduled, predetermined days and times (synchronous) for which instructor and students are physically present throughout; it will require detailed health and safety protocols for engagement among faculty and students.
  • Hybrid Asynchronous: Student learning occurs both in scheduled in‐person class meetings during specific published times and locations, and in asynchronous online class interactions. Typically, hybrid asynchronous classes will meet for fewer hours in person than standard in-person classes, with more out-of-class work required.
  • Hybrid Synchronous: Student learning occurs both in scheduled in-person class meetings at specific published times and locations, and in synchronous online class meetings at specific published times. Typically, hybrid synchronous classes will meet for fewer hours in person than standard in-person classes, but will have required online class meetings.
  • Asynchronous Online: Student learning occurs exclusively online, asynchronously; there are no in-person convenings of the entire class; student engagement with the faculty member is facilitated as needed via a digital platform. There will be no prescheduled meeting times, either online or in‐person.
  • Blended Modality: Student learning occurs primarily online, asynchronously, but with pre‐scheduled synchronous in virtual convenings of the entire class (e.g., via Zoom).
  • Synchronous Online: Student learning occurs exclusively online, during regularly scheduled, predetermined days and times, with the instructor and students virtually present throughout (e.g., via Zoom). 

Accessibility

Salem State provides academic accommodations when requested by students who disclose a disability. Students who received accommodations in high school and wish to request them while participating in the Dual Enrollment program are encouraged to contact the Center for Accessible Academic Resources.

Contact Us

Dual Enrollment

978.542.7025
Mailing Address:
352 Lafayette St.
Salem, MA 01970
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