AP vs. Dual Enrollment vs. Honors Classes: Which Advanced Courses Are Best for College Admissions?

As students begin planning their high school schedules, one question comes up again and again:

Should I take AP classes, dual enrollment, or honors courses?

Parents often wonder which option looks best to colleges, whether these classes can save money on college tuition, and if taking more advanced courses automatically improves admission chances.

In this episode of Old College Try, College Aid Pro’s Peg Keough sits down with admissions expert Joe Korfmacher to break down the differences between AP, dual enrollment, and honors classes and explain how colleges actually evaluate them. If you’re trying to build the right high school schedule without adding unnecessary stress, this conversation is packed with practical advice.

What Are AP Classes?

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level classes developed by the College Board, the same organization that administers the SAT. Each course follows a standardized curriculum and ends with a national AP exam scored on a scale of one to five.

Joe explains that families often focus on the AP exam score, but the grade earned in the class is frequently more important during the admissions process. Colleges use the course itself to evaluate whether a student challenged themselves academically, while AP exam scores may, or may not, translate into college credit after enrollment.

Not Every High School Offers the Same Opportunities

One of the biggest mistakes families make is comparing course offerings between schools.

Some high schools offer more than 20 AP classes. Others offer only a handful, or none at all.

Admissions offices understand this.

Every college receives a school profile explaining what courses are available, so students are evaluated within the context of the opportunities their own high school provides. Colleges don’t expect students to take classes that simply aren’t offered.

Is It Better to Get Straight A’s or Take Harder Classes?

It’s one of the most common admissions questions.

Should students protect their GPA with easier classes, or challenge themselves with AP courses – even if it means earning a few B’s?

Joe’s answer isn’t black and white, but selective colleges generally prefer students who pursue an appropriately rigorous schedule rather than avoiding challenging coursework altogether. A transcript that shows academic growth and thoughtful course selection often tells a stronger story than perfect grades earned without much academic challenge.

Peg also reminds parents not to get caught in the comparison trap.

The goal isn’t taking the most AP classes possible.

The goal is taking the courses that make sense for your student while still leaving time for extracurricular activities, leadership opportunities, sleep, and simply being a teenager.

Do AP Classes Save Money in College?

Many families assume earning high AP scores automatically reduces college costs.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

Some colleges award course credit for AP exam scores.

Others offer placement into higher-level classes without reducing graduation requirements.

Some don’t award credit at all.

Even earning a perfect score on an AP exam doesn’t guarantee a student will graduate early or pay less tuition. Policies vary significantly from one college to another, making it important to research individual schools rather than making assumptions.

Joe emphasizes that students should take AP classes because they’re academically appropriate, not simply because they hope to shorten college.

What Is Dual Enrollment?

Unlike AP classes, dual enrollment connects students directly with a specific college or university.

Students earn both high school and college credit simultaneously, which is where the name “dual enrollment” comes from.

Depending on the program, courses may be taught:

• At the high school
• On a college campus
• Online
• Through a hybrid format

Instead of relying on one standardized exam, dual enrollment credit is typically based on the student’s course grade.

Is Dual Enrollment Better Than AP?

Not necessarily.

Joe explains that both demonstrate academic rigor, but AP courses offer one advantage: standardization.

Because every AP class follows the same nationally recognized curriculum and exam structure, admissions offices have a consistent benchmark for evaluating student performance.

Dual enrollment programs, on the other hand, vary widely depending on the college offering the course, the instructor, and the partnership with the student’s high school.

That doesn’t make dual enrollment less valuable! It simply means families should choose the option that best fits the student’s goals rather than assuming one is universally superior.

What About Honors Classes?

Honors classes are often confused with AP courses, but they’re very different.

Unlike AP or dual enrollment, honors courses are created locally by individual schools or districts. While they’re generally more challenging than standard classes, there is no national curriculum or standardized exam.

As a result, an honors biology course at one high school may look very different from honors biology at another. Admissions offices understand these differences because they review each school’s academic profile alongside student transcripts.

Don’t Compare GPAs Across Schools

Weighted GPAs can create a lot of unnecessary stress.

Some schools award extra GPA points for AP classes.

Others weight honors courses.

Some don’t weight grades at all.

Joe explains that colleges don’t simply compare GPA numbers between applicants. Admissions offices recalculate academic records using their own methods while evaluating students within the context of their individual high school.

In other words, a higher weighted GPA from one school isn’t automatically more impressive than a lower GPA from another.

The transcript always tells the bigger story.

A Money-Saving Tip Many Families Don’t Know

Toward the end of the conversation, Joe shares one practical tip that could save families hundreds of dollars during application season.

Many parents assume they must pay to send official AP score reports to every college their student applies to.

In most cases, that’s unnecessary.

Students can usually self-report their AP scores on the Common Application, and colleges will review those scores during admissions. Official score reports typically aren’t required until after a student enrolls.

The same strategy often applies to SAT and ACT scores, though policies vary by institution, so families should always verify each college’s requirements before paying to send official reports.

The Bottom Line

There isn’t one universally “best” advanced course.

The right choice depends on your student’s interests, academic strengths, future goals, and what opportunities their high school provides.

As Joe puts it best:

Choose rigor with purpose, not rigor simply for appearances.

When students challenge themselves appropriately while maintaining balance, they build stronger college applications and healthier high school experiences at the same time.