Local opinion: arizona state budget misses opportunity to invest in dual enrollment programs

Arizona’s state budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 missed a critical opportunity to invest in one of the most successful educational and workforce development tools available to our students: dual enrollment.

Dual enrollment allows high school students to earn college credits while still in high school. Those credits can be applied toward an associate degree, university degree, industry certification or workforce credential. Simply put, dual enrollment helps students get ahead academically while helping families save thousands of dollars in future college expenses. It just makes sense.

At a time when the cost of higher education continues to rise, it makes little sense to reduce or eliminate support for programs that lower those costs. Families across Arizona are working hard to provide opportunities for their children. Dual enrollment offers a practical pathway that shortens the time needed to complete a degree or certificate, reduces student debt and increases the likelihood of post-secondary success.

The benefits extend far beyond individual students and families. Arizona employers consistently tell us they need more skilled workers. Whether in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, education or skilled trades, businesses are searching for the next generation of talent. Dual enrollment helps build that pipeline by exposing students to college-level coursework and career pathways before they graduate from high school.

The numbers tell the story. Pima Community College alone serves more than 6,700 dual enrollment students each year. Yet despite the program’s success, Arizona no longer provides recurring state operating support for dual enrollment through community colleges. As a result, institutions are increasingly forced to absorb millions of dollars in program costs or consider shifting a portion of those costs to students and school districts.

That is not a sustainable long-term solution.

State leaders should view dual enrollment as an investment, not an expense. Every student who earns college credit in high school is more likely to complete a credential, enter the workforce prepared, and contribute to Arizona’s economy. Every family that saves on tuition costs is better positioned for financial stability. Every employer that gains access to a better-prepared workforce benefits from a stronger talent pipeline.

The conversation should not be about whether we can afford to support dual enrollment. The question should be whether we can afford not to.

Our priorities as a state should reflect our commitment to the future. That future begins with today’s students. Investing in dual enrollment means investing in educational attainment, workforce readiness, economic growth, and opportunity.

Arizona’s students deserve better. The Legislature should restore and strengthen support for dual-enrollment programs and ensure that this proven pathway remains accessible to every student willing to work for it.

The future of Arizona is sitting in our classrooms today. Let’s invest accordingly.