Early College FAQ

Early College includes opportunities for high school students to earn college credit through Cerro Coso Community College while still enrolled in high school. This includes Dual Enrollment, Concurrent Enrollment, and Articulated Credit. Some schools offer full pathways that allow students to complete certificates or degrees by the time they graduate high school.

For Early College opportunities at you high school, please visit your district page from the Early College homepage.

• Dual Enrollment: Classes are offered at your high school and are primarily made up of high school students.
• Concurrent Enrollment: You take a Cerro Coso course offered online or on campus with college students.

Some high school CTE courses are aligned with Cerro Coso courses and may earn you college credit. Check with your high school to see what is available and how to receive credit.

Step 1: Talk to your parents and high school counselor to determine
whether or not taking college courses is the right option for you.
Make sure you are ready for college classes! Select your college
course(s) with your High School Counselor

Step 2: Complete the Cerro Coso Admissions Application 

Step 3: Create your DualEnroll.com account and select your college
courses for Dual/Concurrent Enrollment.

Step 4: Parents will receive an email and/or text message to provide
consent for their students to take Dual/ Concurrent Enrollment
courses.

Step 5: The College will review each student's account and send
notifications to the students or their high school if corrections are
needed.

Step 6: The high school will review student accounts, provide
documentation as needed, and approve the student for
dual/concurrent enrollment.

Step 7: Students approved for dual/concurrent enrollment will be
registered by the college. Students can check their InsideCC
accounts to verify that they have been registered.

Yes! You can still participate through Concurrent Enrollment by applying and completing the required approval process through Cerro Coso. See “How do I sign up for Dual or Concurrent Enrollment?”

Yes. The process is slightly different for students under 14 years of age.

Students under the age of 14 will not be able to complete their cerrocoso.dualenroll.com account creation.

Students must:

• Complete the admissions application
• Submit a Release Form
• Provide a letter of recommendation
• Submit a recent report card or transcripts

Please email earlycollege@cerrocoso.edu to request the required forms and submit them to the Director of Early College, Kristin Hanle.

Check with your high school counselor or visit your school’s Early College page for a list of available courses.

As a high school student, you may enroll in:

• Up to 11 units in Fall and Spring
• Up to 7 units in Summer
• Up to 15 units (maximum of 4 courses in Fall/Spring and 9 units in Summer) if attending a CCAP partner school

It is recommended that you work with your counselor to determine an appropriate course load.

We recommend speaking with one of our college counselors to explore college courses that fit your educational goals. . Most students begin with general education or introductory courses. You may also refer to the Early College Handbook for additional recommendations.

Yes, but you may need to provide transcripts or proof that you meet the prerequisite requirements (AP Scores are also accepted).

No. Approval at another college does not automatically allow you to register at Cerro Coso. You must complete the Cerro Coso approval and enrollment process on the Cerro Coso's DualEnroll website.

Holds prevent self- registration. A Dual AND Concurrent hold will remain on student accounts until High School completion.

*Note: If you are 18 yrs old, you may have to clear an Identification hold. If you see that you have an Identification hold on your account, you will be required to share two government-issued IDs (driver's license/ State ID and SSN Card or Birth Certificate). 

If you are waitlisted:

• Monitor your position regularly
• Check your Cerro Coso email frequently
• Follow instructor directions if contacted

Important: Students do not self-register for Early College courses. Registration is completed by Admissions & Records. Waitlisted students will be contacted if space becomes available and provided next steps.

Waitlist and add code instructions (PDF)

All courses are available at Cerro Coso's DualEnroll website before open registration to allow for the approval process and registration.

• Summer/Fall 2026 Open Registration: August 22, 2026
• Spring 2027 Open Registration: November 18, 2026

If you need to change your approver (parent, counselor, or administrator), log in to your account on Cerro Coso's DualEnroll website.

1. Click on “Profile”
2. Click on  “High School”
3. Provide the updated information for any area of your profile.

All online classes are accessed through Canvas using your Cerro Coso student login.

1. Go to our website at www.cerrocoso.edu.
2. Click on InsideCC in the top right corner of the screen.
3. Enter your College email address and password.
4. Click on your Canvas Tile.
5. Select the Online class you wish to access.

View the How to Access Canvas (PDF)

You can view available classes by checking the Cerro Coso class schedule online.

You can also see the courses that are available by logging in to your account at Cerro Coso's DualEnroll website.

Courses will appear on your Cerro Coso College transcript. Your high school may also choose to include them—check with your school for details.

High school credit is determined by your high school or district. College credit is awarded upon successful completion.

Some AP exam scores may qualify for college credit or towards prerequisites.

• Dual Enrollment: Free
• Concurrent Enrollment: Tuition is waived, but students may be responsible for some fees (See What is my student rep fee) and textbooks. Your high school may assist with the purchase of textbooks. Inquire at your high school for assistance if needed.

The student representation fee is an optional fee that supports student advocacy.

Students may opt out by completing the Update form: Student Rep Fee Notice

“As authorized by Section 76060, AB 1504 establishes a fee to support the operations of the local and the statewide community college student organization, recognized by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, with effective student representation and participation in state-level community college shared governance and with governmental affairs representatives to advocate before the Legislature and other state and local governmental entities.”

No, financial aid is not available to students who have not yet graduated from high school.

• Dual Enrollment: Books are typically provided by your high school
• Concurrent Enrollment:
  • Books can be purchased through the eCampus bookstore.
  • Books can also be purchased through any platform where the course materials are sold.

A “W” means you withdrew from a class after the deadline. It appears on your transcript but does not affect your GPA.

Grades of D or F will remain on your transcript and may impact your GPA. It’s important to seek help early or drop the class before deadlines.

Contact the Early College office for assistance with dropping a class.

Email: earlycollege@cerrocoso.edu

Phone: (661) 823-4986

**Be sure to act before deadlines to avoid a “W” or grade penalty.

Official transcripts can be requested through Cerro Coso’s Admissions & Records office or transcript request system. Visit the Transcripts page for more details. 

**PDF How to Transcripts**

If you have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in high school, it does not automatically transfer to the college level. However, you may be eligible for support services through Cerro Coso’s Accessibility (DSPS) program.

To receive accommodations, you will need to:

• Complete a DSPS application
• Meet with an Access Counselor

Visit the DSPS page to get started.

Call:

• (760) 384-6219
• (661) 823-4986

Let them know you would like to schedule an Early College counseling appointment.