New evidence from Texas shows students who combine dual‑enrollment courses with Advanced Placement or IB coursework earn higher college completion rates and better early‑career earnings. The Community College Research Center analysis found combined accelerated coursework leads to stronger enrollment and credentialing outcomes compared with single‑path strategies. Policymakers and institutions are taking note: work‑based learning, apprenticeships and employer‑aligned pathways are being positioned as companions to academic programs to bridge the education‑to‑career gap. Colleges are designing credit pathways that integrate employer projects, internships and dual enrollment to accelerate credential attainment. Programs that blend academic rigor with workplace exposure may offer a scalable approach to improve completion and earnings for cohorts traditionally underrepresented in higher education.