Expanding Access to Earning College Credit in High School Could Raise Educational Attainment and Strengthen Arizona's Economy

New analysis shows early college opportunities connect education and the economy, delivering on voter priorities for higher attainment and long-term prosperity for Arizona

PHOENIX, Oct. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding access to programs for high school students to earn college credit, known as dual enrollment, could help Arizona reach higher levels of educational attainment, strengthen its talent and workforce pipelines, and fuel growth, according to new findings from Unlocking Potential: Turn Arizona's Priorities into Economic Gains, released by Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA).

The independent study, conducted by Rounds Consulting Group, measures the return on investment Arizona could achieve by acting on one of voters' highest education priorities: increasing education and training beyond high school, starting with broader access to college-level courses that count toward both a diploma and a degree. The report finds that dual enrollment is a proven bridge between K-12 learning, higher education, and workforce readiness that can drive opportunity and success for generations to come.

Through years of public opinion research, CFA has found that education consistently ranks among Arizonans' top priorities, with strong agreement that a highly educated and skilled population is essential to the state's success. CFA's Arizona Voters' Agenda research also shows voters want long-term planning and decisions that move beyond political cycles. Large majorities across political and generational lines specifically support increasing access to dual enrollment and other early college programs because these pathways lead to higher post-secondary attainment, better-paying jobs, and greater opportunity statewide.

"Arizona voters overwhelmingly agree that education drives opportunity, and that expanding access to dual enrollment is a way to deliver on that opportunity," said Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA. "Dual enrollment bridges high school and higher education, saves time and money, and helps students enter the workforce prepared for the jobs our economy needs most. This is future-focused planning in action — exactly what Arizonans want to see."

While dual enrollment is one of the most proven strategies for increasing educational attainment, access across Arizona remains uneven, shaped by differences in local partnerships, outreach, and cost structures.

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SOURCE Center for the Future of Arizona