New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows dual enrollment helped sustain six‑year completion rates for students who began college in fall 2019, a cohort affected by the COVID‑19 pandemic. The report found just over 60% of the cohort earned a credential within six years and that students with prior dual‑enrollment experience posted a 71% completion rate by year six—nearly 14 percentage points higher than peers without dual credit. Doug Shapiro of the Clearinghouse highlighted dual enrollment’s outsized role in retention and degree attainment, particularly for Black, Hispanic and low‑income students. Dual enrollment—high‑school students taking college courses—remains a key lever for enrollment and equity strategies.