SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission today announced a significant 11.5 percent increase in high school dual enrollment through four-year institutions. This growth comes as the state’s new dual enrollment initiative, LevelUpWV, continues to expand access to higher education for high school students.
LevelUpWV, a groundbreaking state-funded dual enrollment program launched in 2023, allows high school students to take college courses for free. The four-year pilot program is designed to provide students with early exposure to college coursework and align their education with high-demand career pathways in West Virginia, such as healthcare, information technology, and engineering.
“LevelUpWV is such a big win for students who need and deserve more opportunities,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Higher Education. “This program not only provides students with a head start on their college education, but it also saves families money and puts students on a faster track toward earning a college degree. The growth we are seeing in dual enrollment is helping increase overall enrollment at our universities, making higher education more accessible for students of all backgrounds.”
During the first year of the LevelUpWV pilot program, 4,600 students from 52 counties participated in courses offered by West Virginia’s public universities and its community and technical colleges. Early results from the 2024-2025 academic year indicate that more than 6,700 students are now taking part in LevelUpWV, pointing to a significant expansion of the program for its second year.
In addition to the growth in dual enrollment, the number of West Virginia students receiving needs-based financial aid has also increased. The state’s Higher Education Grant Program (HEGP) saw an increase in recipients from 14,284 in 2022-23 to 15,360 in 2023-24.
For more information on LevelUpWV, HEGP, the Promise Scholarship and other financial aid programs available to West Virginia students, visit CFWV.com.
