Jeff Allbritten, Tammy Caraker: Dual enrollment — saving families, strengthening Florida’s workforce

Florida’s future depends on a strong, skilled workforce, and dual enrollment is one of the state’s most powerful tools to get there.

As college costs rise and employers face urgent talent shortages, dual enrollment delivers affordable, workforce-aligned education that prepares students for high-demand careers, right here in Florida. These programs accelerate pathways to degrees and industry-relevant skills, saving families money while strengthening the state’s economy.

In fact, approximately 90% of graduates from Florida SouthWestern State College’s (FSW) dual enrollment programs remain in Florida, helping to fill critical roles in health care, technology, education, and business.

At FSW, the impact is clear. Last year alone, more than 3,200 students across the five-county region to