The ASU program stands alone- they are so unique that they get their own entry on our list of 30 Ways to Earn College Credit in High School. I’m not the only one that thinks so, ASU has been ranked as the #1 most innovative school in the country by U.S. News & World Report for the past 8 years in a row! Everything about this program is different and cool, so even those of you with access to free dual enrollment may want to consider ASU for its no-risk program. (Plus, I’m going to show you how to get the rest of an ASU bachelor’s degree for free).
ASU is the only college in the country that allows you to decide whether or not to have your grade added to your official college transcript.
Cost
There are 2 pricing options for ASU Universal Learner Courses.
- Enroll as an individual. You’ll pay $25 to enroll, and upon completion, if you want your grade / college credit, you’ll pay ASU $400. If you choose not to add your grade / credit to your transcript, you record is purged and you never have to disclose a bad grade! Individuals can use the HS4CC Portal to access special course and extras available to our community. You may enroll this way at any age/grade (even adults!)
- COMING November 1, 2025: Enroll through Homeschooling for College Credit’s HS4CC Academy for discounted flat-rate pricing. You’ll pay $425 to sign up, and receive 1 course for free ($425 value). Then, you can purchase courses for $299 each. Enrollment is limited to homeschool students in grades 9-12 only.
There are pros and cons of both options, so choose the one that benefits your family!
Read more: ASU Frequently Asked Questions
Transcript: How to Record ASU Courses
If you…
- Take the course, finish the course, but DO NOT record college credit, record on your homeschool transcript as “Honors” and weigh as 4.5. Award 0.5 high school credits per ASU course taken this way. You will not have a college transcript with ASU.
- Take the course, finish the course, and earn college credit record on your homeschool transcript as “College” and weigh as 5.0 Award 1.0 high school credits per ASU course taken this way. You WILL have a college transcript with ASU.
Transfer of Credit
ASU is a regionally accredited 4-year university. The credit earned there should transfer to any college that accepts transfer credit. If you already have a target college in mind, you could check with the college to verify in advance.
Enrollment Requirements
- No SAT/ACT
- No placement test.
- No high school transcript.
- No college transcript.
- Prerequisites are a suggestion, but not enforced.
- Yes, you only need a government-issued photo ID with the student’s name visible.
HS4CC parents have reported the following options to work for identification:
- Driver’s license/permit
- Passport
- DoD dependent ID
- Public School ID
- Umbrella School ID
- Homeschool ID w/School name, student name, birthdate, and photo.
ASU “Regular” Admissions
ASU’s Universal Learner program was intentionally created to funnel students into ASU’s regular college degree programs. ASU has traditional on-campus programs and online degrees. Some of the competitive majors may have additional requirements like test scores or letters of recommendation, so you’ll need to look at the details of the specific program you’re considering, but admission to the university is guaranteed.
Applying to ASU for a degree: Your student is a freshman applicant. Even with a substantial amount of college credit, high school students typically apply as first-time freshmen for college admission and financial aid at any college or university. If your student is denied admission for any reason, they can receive “guaranteed admissions” by completing 24 college credits through Universal Learner after high school. All college credit earned before, during, and after high school can be applied to their degree. This is a little bit complex, but if you have questions, our team is happy to help you through the process.
If you decide to pursue a college degree at ASU, we strongly recommend you use the 100% free tuition partnership program by grabbing a job at Starbucks!
The Starbucks College Achievement Plan
Starbucks College Achievement Plan
“Every benefits-eligible U.S. partner working part- or full-time receives 100% tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program. Choose from over 100 diverse undergraduate degree programs, and have our support every step of the way.”
Visit the College Achievement Plan site for a good list of details, but the quick summary is that you must work at least part-time for 3 months to qualify. TIP: while you’re waiting to qualify, take another Universal Learner course and fill out your ASU application packet. As part of your packet, you’ll be required to send in your homeschool high school transcript and fill out the regular FAFSA paperwork.
ASU Online has six start dates per year. It takes about four weeks for an admission decision, but processing times may vary depending on the volume of student applications and how your transcripts are sent to ASU. Starting your application at least a month in advance may help ensure you start on the day you want.
Listen to Jennifer’s podcast episode about how to use the Starbucks program:
Examples of ASU Online Degrees & Majors Available
- Accountancy (BS)
- Art (Digital Photography) (BFA)
- Astronomical and Planetary Sciences (BS)
- Biological Sciences (BS)
- Business – Law (BA)
- Business – Food Industry Management (BA)
- Chemistry (BA)
- Community Health (BS)
- Computer Information Systems (BS)
- English (BA)
- Food and Nutrition Entrepreneurship (BS)
- Global Management (BGM)
- Graphic Design (BSD)
- Health Education and Health Promotion (BS)
- Full list here