Homeschoolers can earn college credit at some of the highest-ranked colleges in the country, either in person or from the comfort of their own homes.
Earn College Credit: 20 elite universities where your teen can take classes (online) for college credit.
Dual enrollment programs allow homeschooled students to enroll in classes directly from universities and earn credits from those institutions. Because they are taken within and verified by colleges, credits obtained through dual enrollment are among the most likely to transfer.
Each of the following twenty schools is ranked among the top 100 in the country by US News and World Report, promising a reputable source of credit and a fulfilling academic experience. Additionally, every school listed offers an online-only option, allowing homeschoolers to participate from the comfort of their own homes.
| Harvard University (Massachusetts) Harvard University is ranked #3 in the United States, #5 for Economics, and #2 for Psychology Private 4-year university Program Name: Harvard University Extension Availability: Year-round; online, residential, commuter Cost: $2,040 per course (books not included) About: Harvard Extension offers courses, certificates, and degrees. They do not allow high school students to earn a degree, however they are allowed to take individual courses. Courses are OPEN ENROLLMENT, meaning anyone of any age may register. They offer over 800 courses, lower level and upper level, all will appear on a Harvard University transcript and are taught by Harvard University faculty. Students who take courses through Harvard University Extension will receive a .edu Harvard email address. HES allows high school students to take graduate courses and earn graduate certificates, but not undergraduate degrees. PRO TIP: Harvard University Extension undergraduate degrees are restricted to students who have been out of high school for at least 5 years, but graduate degrees do not have this requirement. The Master’s is shorter, less expensive, and puts you at the tippy top – only 15% of people in the USA have master’s degrees. More information |
| Duke University (North Carolina) Ranked #6 (tie) in the United States, #2 in nursing and #8 in psychology Private 4-year university Program Name: High School Student Program Availability: Summer only; online or commuter Cost: $50 application fee, one-time $120 fee for lifetime transcripts, $2,840 per non-lab course. About: Students must be a current 10th or 11th grade student and be 16 years old by June 30th of summer session to apply. Students must submit a high school transcript, resume, and personal statement. 12th-grade students are not eligible. Online and On-campus options. Some classes are synchronous and others are asynchronous. Sample of online courses: African Studies, Human Physiology, Creative Writing, Philosophy, Medical Neuroscience, Exercise Physiology, and Exercise and Mental Health. Sample of on-campus courses: Art History, Anthropology, Calculus I & II, Ethical Theory, Virtue Theory, Chinese Philosophy, Sociological Inquiry. More Information |
| Northwestern University (Illinois) Northwestern is ranked #6 (tie) in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: College Preparation Program Availability: Summer only; online, residential, commuter Cost: Courses cost the same whether taken online or on campus. Each course is $5407 for 4-quarter hours. Students attending on campus will be responsible for the room and board fee of $650 per week. Books are an extra cost. Scholarships are available. About: Open to rising juniors and seniors who are at least age 15 on the first day of class. Students must have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. High school transcript is required. Students can take as many classes as they like but they can’t mix modality (choose all online or all in-person). Upper level 300 courses are open to students in this program. Sample of online courses: Financial Accounting, Arabic, Women in Chinese Cinema, Intermediate Composition: Immigrant Stories, French, Bioethics, Minds and Machines, Logic, Philosophy, Korean, Italian, German, Statistics and Data Science. Sample of on campus courses: Playwriting, Spanish, Physics, Philosophy, Hidden Women of Music, Black Popular Music and Media, Japanese, History of Refugees, Europe in the Modern World, Computer Programming, Race and Technology. Pro Tip: Northwestern uses quarter hours instead of the more common semester hours. When colleges convert quarter hours into semester hours, some colleges award 2.66 credits (not 3.0) which may present a deficiency for meeting a core requirement. We recommend not using a 4-quarter hour course for important freshman core prerequisites like English Composition 1 or 2. More information |
| University of Pennsylvania: (Pennsylvania) UPenn is ranked #10 (tie) in the United States, and the Wharton School is ranked #1 Business School in the United States Public 4-year university Option 1: Program Name: Pre-baccalaureate Program (Wharton) Availability: Year-round; online Cost: $100 nonrefundable application fee. $4,230 per course plus $81/course online service fee, $76/course materials fee. About: Admission is highly selective. Courses meet once or twice weekly for live lectures, discussions, and exercises, though the specific meetings times and days vary from course to course. Selections are based on a record of academic excellence, willingness to take on a challenge, and demonstrated intellectual curiosity. Additionally, students must be currently enrolled in grades 11-12 during the school year; or be rising 11-12 grade students during the summer term with a minimum 3.5 GPA (graduated seniors are not eligible), not be matriculating into the University of Pennsylvania as a freshman, and demonstrate strong written communication skills. Wharton has created separate sections of these courses made up entirely of driven and ambitious high school students (not merged with adult learners). Maximum 2 courses per session, no limit on number of sessions. Sample of courses: Introduction to Behavioral Economics, Consumer Behavior, Financial Markets and the Global Economy, Health Economics, Business Decisions using Optimization and Simulation. More Information Option 2: Program Name: Pre-college (College of Arts & Science) Availability: Summer; online, residential, commuter Cost: $100 application fee. Program fee and general fee are paid once whether you take one or two courses. Cost differs by course type and number of units: $8,462–$13,858 for online, $14,311–$22,405 for residential. About: Only the pre-college programs are worth college credit, not the Penn Summer Prep or Summer Academy. Courses are 1 UPenn unit, which translates into 4 semester hours. Applicants must be current 10-11th grade students, have a 3.3 GPA, and submit an essay. Standardized test scores are strongly encouraged. Students apply to the program, not to a specific course. You are required to choose alternate courses when registering as courses may hit capacity or be canceled. Sample of online courses: Music of Africa, Impressionism, Ideas in Mathematics, Linguistics, International Relations, Emergence of Modern Science, Gender and Society. Sample of on-campus courses: Biology, Media Studies, Law and Society, The Emergence of Modern Europe, Experimental Psychology, Science Technology and War, Microeconomics. More Information |
| University of Chicago (Illinois) University of Chicago is ranked #11 in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: Pre-College Summer Session Online Availability: Summer only; online Cost: Varies by program and timeframe, ex. $4,790 for Summer Online, $8,225 for Summer Language Institute, $2,500–$14,490 for summer residential programs. Only online classes and 3- and 4-week residential programs offer credit. About: Open to high school students in any grade that are at least 14 years old; different options for different age ranges. Sample of courses: Brief History of Doom, African Civilization, American Short Fiction, Arabic, Digital Humanities Using Python, Building the Brain, Chemistry, Black Holes, Contemporary Art, Critical Videogame Studies, Computing for Social Science. More information |
| Brown University (Rhode Island) Ranked #13 in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: Pre-Baccalaureate Availability: Summer only; online, residential, commuter Cost: On-campus residential, on-campus commuter, and online courses are all different prices. The prices in this box are for online. If you want to attend on campus, visit their website (prices are higher for on campus). $8,586 for one course, $17,162 for two courses; additional fees include, $10 academic records fee, textbooks and course materials, for rising or recently graduated high school seniors (minimum age 17), summer asynchronous online 7-week session (may have some synchronous meetings). About: The Brown University Pre-Baccalaureate Program is a highly selective program for rising or recently graduated high school seniors ready to undertake the rigors of credit-bearing, undergraduate study. Pre-Baccalaureate students — known as Pre-Baccs — enroll in classes alongside Brown and visiting undergraduates in the university’s Summer Session. Allocate 25-30 hours per week per course. Sample of courses: History of Emotions, Sustainable Investing, Critical Reasoning, American Presidents and the Western Tradition, Greek Mythology, Linguistics, Emerging Infectious Disease, The Holocaust, Introduction to Catalan. More Information |
| University of California Los Angeles UCLA (California) UCLA is ranked #15 (tie) in the United States and is the #1 public university Public 4-year university Option 1: Program Name: Precollege Summer Institute Availability: Summer only; commuter Cost: $3000-$6000 depending on program, including housing. Commuter options are available for some programs. Scholarships available. About: Precollege Summer Institute is an in-person program. Depending on the course you choose, it lasts anywhere from 1-3 weeks and award 2-4 quarter credits. Must be at least 15 years of age (or 17 for residential sessions). Sample of courses: Content Creation & Scriptwriting, AI, Code, & Art, Applications of Nanoscience, Game Lab, Musical Theater, Word Politics etc. Option 2: Program Name: Summer Online Availability: Summer only; online Cost: High school students are classified as visiting students and should expect to pay approximately $1,500 – $2,500 per course. About: Summer Online is a more traditional dual enrollment online experience with courses available to both high school teens or adults. Session length varies between 3-9 weeks. Sample of courses: Myth and Ritual, Aliens Psychics and Ghosts, Colonialism, Environmental Justice, Urban Planning, Environmentalism, Global Environment and Development, Studio Art Instruction private or semi-private. More Information |
| University of California Berkeley (California) UC Berkeley is ranked #17 in the United States and is the #2 Public University in the world, #2 in Civil Engineering, #1 in Environmental Engineering, #2 in Computer Science, #2 in Business, #2 in Psychology, and #5 in Economics. Public 4-year university Program Name: Pre-College Scholars: Summer Virtual Track Availability: Summer only; online. Cost: Application $25, Registration fee $550, Document management fee $68, “Per Unit” tuition $595 (most courses are 3 units). About: Students must be at least 16 years old on the first day of class and have completed 10th grade. Students must have a 3.0 GPA. Students who graduate high school at age 17 or younger may apply.There are multiple summer session dates ranging from 3-10 weeks in length. Courses may be either asynchronous or synchronous format. Sample of courses: African American Music and US Popular Culture, Introduction to Ancient Greece, Primate Behavior, Mexican and Chicano Art History, Electrochemical Device Engineering, etc. More information |
| Emory University (Georgia) Ranked #24 (tie) in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: Pre-College Program Availability: Summer only; online or commuter Cost: $75 technology fee per course, $5,797 per 3 credit course, $7,670 per 4 credit course. About: For rising juniors and seniors. Courses are 6 weeks. On campus students live in dorms or may commute daily. Their BEST catalog is their online catalog. At the time of pulling course lists, they offered 40 classes online and only 5 on campus. Non-parent recommendation is required. Unofficial transcripts are required, test scores are REQUIRED for the credit program (they are optional for non-credit classes). Sample of online courses: Advanced Calculus for Data Science, American Crime Fiction, Calculus I or II, Chinese, Drugs and Behavior, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hip Hop Dance and Identity, Psychology, Latin, History of Religions. Sample of on campus courses: Comparative Politics, German, Physics 1 and 2, Introduction to Sculpture, the Science of Disease, Children’s Literate and Popular Culture, Philosophy of Race and Ethnicity. More information |
| Georgetown University Ranked #24 (tie) in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: College Credit Courses Availability: 6, 8, 9, and 12 week course length, offered year round; online only. Cost: $3,995 per 3 credit course About: For ages 13+, 128 hours of total instruction and activities per course. Students will receive an official Georgetown University transcript at the end of each course. Sample Courses: The Science of Cells and Innovation (Biology), How the Brain Influences Behavior (Psychology), Creative Writing, Marketing, Cybersecurity More Information |
| Tufts University (Massachusetts) Tufts University is ranked #37 in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: Pre-College Programs: Courses at Tufts for High Schoolers, Tufts College Experience (on campus only) Availability: Fall, winter, spring, and summer sessions; online, hybrid, and on campus available Cost: Varies by option, anywhere from $11,790 (residential summer on-campus) to $3,291 (dual credit class), $65 application fee About: Letter of recommendation and transcript required, materials, lab fees, and textbooks not included; rising 10th – 12th grade (ages 15-19) for summer courses, rising 11th–12th grade for college courses; maximum 10 credits and unlimited workshops per session. Social activities for both on campus and online students. Tufts University is a very selective college with an acceptance rate (for class of 2026) of 11%. More Information |
| Boston University (Massachusetts) Ranked #41 in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: High School Honors Online Availability: Summer only; online, residential, commuter Cost: $60 nonrefundable application fee. $815 a credit (2 courses maximum for 8 credits total). Add a meal plan for $3,276-$3,600, they offer housing but pricing is unclear. They offer financial aid to certain qualified individuals that take two courses. About: Open to rising 11th and 12th graders. Application must be completed by the prospective student, not the parent or other third party. Students must submit a personal statement, two recommendations, high school transcript, and standardized test scores. Classes consist of online lectures, discussion boards, individual assignments, and a flexible weekly schedule. Pro Tip: Unlike most colleges on this list, these courses can actually be used towards a degree at Boston University. Dual enrollment courses are offered at approximately 50% full cost, allowing a student to enter with several thousand dollars already saved and several credits already complete. Sample of online courses: Anthropology, Art History, Business, Cinema and Media Studies, Writing and other english courses, Economics, Health Sciences, Various Languages, Management, Mathematics and Statistics, Neuroscience More Information |
| West Texas A&M University (Texas) Part of the Texas A&M system, which is ranked #51 in the United States Public 4-year university Program Name: Pre-University Program (PUP) Availability: Fall, spring, and summer sessions; online or on-campus Cost: $150 per course, textbooks not included About: Maximum 2 courses per fall or spring term, 1 course per summer term. 9th – 12th grade (maximum age at time of registration is 18), minimum GPA 3.0; limited to WTAMU core or foreign language courses unless permission is given by provost; must file official degree plan after 15 credit hours completed. Academic advising and tutoring included. Students who earn 6 credits or more through this program with a 2.0 or greater GPA receive guaranteed university admission. More Information |
| William & Mary (Virginia) William & Mary is ranked #54 in the United States and #17 in undergraduate teaching. Public 4-year university Program Name: Pre-College Program in American History Availability: Summer only; on campus Cost: $6,200, includes tuition, room, and board. About: Students must have completed 9th grade to apply. The program is also open to rising college freshmen. Students choose one of the four courses offered through the program. First choice is not guaranteed. Students will receive a letter grade and 4 college credits. Applicants will submit an essay, transcript, and letter of recommendation. Sample of courses: American Independence, Road to the American Revolution, Road to the Civil War. More Information |
| UMASS-Amherst (Massachusetts) UMASS-Amherst is ranked #58 in the United States Public 4-year university Program Name: Pre-College Availability: Summer only; online or residential Cost: Varies. Summer online: $1,925 for 2-credit classes, $35 application fee. All classes meet synchronously 3–5 times per week. On campus at UMASS-Amherst: Varies by class, $2,352–$3,907 in-person, $1,508–$2,262 commuter; $12,157 residential, $7,022 commuter for 6-credit, 6-week Research Intensives. About: Program fees include tuition, housing, a full meal plan, co-curricular activities, and a one-time registration fee. All students receive a UMass student ID card (UCard) as well as access to the campus Recreation Center. 10th-12th grade. All classes are Pass/Fail, which do not always transfer to other colleges. More Information |
| Syracuse University (New York) Syracuse is ranked #73 in the United States. Private 4-year university Program Name: Summer College. There are 6 program options, each with different requirements, different experiences, different credit, and different costs. Only the research program is exclusively non-credit, each other program offers credit or noncredit options. Availability: Year-round; online, residential, commuter, hybrid Option 1: Summer College on Campus: $1,908–$5,743 commuter, $2,395–$7,695 residential (prices differ by section length). Open to rising 10th–12th graders who are at least 15 years old with 3.0 GPA Option 2: Summer College Online: $1,995 no-credit, $3,165 3 credits, $3,905 4 credits. Open to rising 10th–12th graders who are at least 15 years old with 3.0 GPA. 3 or 6 week schedules. High school graduates are eligible as long as they are not matriculating into Syracuse University the following fall. Classes are live and require attendance. Students can choose up to 2 courses. Samples of courses: Architecture, Environment and Society, International Relations, Nutrition, Sociology, Mobile Application Development, Race and Ethnicity. Option 3: Summer College Hybrid: $3,589 commuter, $4,535 residential. Spend 1 week on campus, 3 weeks online. Students must be age 15 or older on day 1 on campus. One course available: Design Worlds Option 4: Summer College On Location: $995-$2,175 Option 5: Summer College Research Immersion: *NON CREDIT* $9,765 Option 6: Summer College Accelerated Online: $750/credit + $35 application fee. 15 week courses taught in an 8 week section and offered year round. Students participate in live 90 minute sessions weekly. Open to students in 11th or 12th grade with 3.0 GPA. Sample course list: Chemistry, Creative Leadership, Legal Systems, Public Advocacy, Theory of Knowledge, Religion and Sports, Business of Healthcare, Nutrition. More information |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) Worcester Polytechnic Institute is ranked #86 in the United States. Private 4-year college Program Name: College Credit Jumpstart for High Schoolers Availability: Summer only; online Cost: $2,995 for the 5-week, 3-credit summer session About: 11th and 12th grade, synchronous and asynchronous online, no prerequisites. One class per 5-week session is recommended for this program, but not required. Offers high level STEM courses like Calculus 3, Biotechnology, Computer Aided Design, along with classes in the Humanities and the Arts like Music Theory, Social Psychology, Writing about Science and Technology. Access to tutoring. More Information |
| American University (Washington D.C.) American University is ranked #91 (tie) in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: AU High School Summer Scholars Availability: Summer only; online Cost: $1,004 per course, each course is 1 college credit. No textbook fees. About: All courses are asynchronous. Students may enroll in up to 3 courses. Instructor access is via email or during office hours through zoom or skype. AU uses Canva and recorded lectures. Program is open to students who are rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grade with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Sample of online courses: Biotechnology, Data Science, Forensic Science, Fundamentals of Law, Global Public Health, Oceanography, Political Action and Public Policy, Sustainable Development, International Diplomacy and Negotiation. More information |
| Fordham University (New York) Ranked #91 (tie) in the United States Private 4-year university Program Name: Pre-College Summer Leaders Academy Availability: Summer only; online, residential, commuter Cost: $75 application fee. Online courses cost $3,120 for a 3 credit course, $4,200 for a 4 credit courses. Students who attend on campus may commute as day students or secure housing for $1,275 (double occupancy). About: Fordham offers one summer session lasting 5-weeks. All applicants must have a 3.0 GPA, provide a writing sample, and provide a current high school transcript. The program is open to students who have finished 11th grade and are rising 12th graders. Rising 10th or 11th graders who have an exceptional record of academic performance can ask for a special exception and must provide a letter of recommendation. Sample of online courses: Biological Anthropology, Data Management, Ancient Rome, Christian Latin, Finite Mathematics, Digital Photography, Visual Thinking. Sample of on campus courses: Forensic Science, Sports Marketing, Philosophy, Child Development, Early Christian Writings, Composition, Critical Reason, Human Function and Dysfunction, Business Communication, Christian Hymns. The Gabelli School of Business offers specialized dual enrollment classes. More information |
Always make sure to visit the institution’s website for the most up-to-date information—prices and course offerings change regularly!
Many of the programs on this list are more pricy per credit than the average dual enrollment option, and it is up to your family to decide whether the benefits of attending one of these highly ranked universities will outweigh the cost.
Across the country, however, plenty of other schools offer similar programs with differing price ranges and class options. If the idea of dual enrollment classes appeals to your student, I would recommend that you also explore the full list of out-of-state and online options located at the end of this page.
