Is it possible to earn college credit without the Internet? Believe it or not, it’s tough! Even on-campus programs can require internet access. But if you want or need to earn college credit without the internet, I have a few options you can use!
- CLEP (college credit by exam)
- DSST (college credit by exam)
- On-campus college classes (with limitations)
- Paper-based college correspondence classes (postal mail)
CLEP or DSST Exams: During High School & After
Credit by exam is my top recommendation for your family, and I’ll explain why. Both of these exams have been around for decades, and the reason they fit so well into any homeschool is that you can choose any study material you want- in other words, unlike an Advanced Placement AP test or similar, you don’t have to use specific study material. You can use your favorite homeschool curriculum for your teen to learn U.S. History and then they can take the U.S. History CLEP exam. This gives you the MOST control over the content, the cost, the values taught, the political slant, and the timeline or pace that your student studies.
CLEP and DSST exams are open to students of any age, so this is an option before, during, and after high school! The cost is about $100 per exam, and each exam is equivalent to 1 college course. There are a handful of exams worth 2 college courses, allowing you to stretch your dollar even more. *Note: you can take CLEP exams for free when you get a voucher through Modern States, but since that requires regular internet access, it’s not helpful for this family.
I like using a full high school semester to learn a subject, and in the final weeks before the end of the semester, you can work in extra “test prep” to get ready for the exam. The exams won’t align perfectly with any one brand, so your curriculum WILL have some gaps that you’ll need to fill. I like REA Guides since they also include practice tests and are usually available from your local public library. I’ve found tons of these over the years at thrift stores and yard sales for just a few dollars.
When your student is done learning, you can use your phone to create a testing account (CLEP users register at CollegeBoard.org, and DSST users register at GetCollegeCredit.com). In both cases, you will travel to your nearest approved testing center to take the standardized exam online at their site. Testing centers are usually at a college, university, military facility, or private testing company. Note that both of these exam brands offer remote testing too, so if you have a family member or friend with good internet, you may consider using their home and internet on test day.
Read more about how to Homeschool for College Credit using CLEP and DSST here.
On-Campus College Classes (Dual Enrollment)
Dual enrollment courses are college courses that allow a high school student to enroll for high school and college credit. For the homeschool family, the parent will award the high school credit and the college will award the college credit. Dual enrollment is free in some states, and reduced tuition is available in many states. Other states will charge full price.
While it seems like on-campus college classes are a slam dunk for those without internet access, that’s not automatically the case. It is common for college courses to have homework and participation expectations outside of class time. This may include watching videos or lectures, participating in online discussion boards, taking online quizzes, submitting assignments and projects through the student’s online account, and referencing or reading materials that are only accessible online.
The subject doesn’t always give you a clue as to whether or not there will be online work required. You may expect general education subjects to have online components, but career and technical will, too. My youngest son’s welding classes all required extensive online work (quizzes, discussion boards, textbook access) and my culinary-professor husband works for a university that requires all students to access online content daily!
If you’re considering dual enrollment in person, there are a few things you can do to help you choose wisely.
- Be transparent with the enrollment coordinator. Let them know about your limited access to the internet. They may have advice to help guide you.
- College campuses almost all provide free Wi-Fi for students. By using a laptop, your student may be able to complete their online requirements by going to campus for homework/study periods. *public Wi-Fi is less secure than home-based connections, so this is not ideal that you access your student’s records or financial aid this way, but is generally safe for homework and quizzes.
- When available, reach out to the professor directly. If a professor’s name is given, you can phone or email them ahead of time. Rather than asking if they can make an exception for your student (unfair) instead, ask them to help you understand the internet requirements ahead of time so you can plan accordingly. Courses that are just “too heavy” in internet requirements are not going to be a good fit- it is better to choose something else instead.
- Textbooks often have digital and paper versions available. If the teacher assigns the digital version, double-check that a paper version is in print and that you can get it through the bookstore or other retailer.
- If tests and quizzes are assigned outside of class, you should be able to arrange these at your college’s testing center. Note that this may not be free of charge.
Paper-based College Correspondence Classes
Some of you may remember a time when “distance learning” meant paper-based correspondence classes! It’s true, this was the wave of the future in the 70’s. Though most have faded away, YES, I do keep a list of these programs if you’re interested in something a little different.
The first thing to know, this list is small. The colleges that were pioneers in first offering paper-based courses have shifted to online delivery, so you won’t have a lot of options in terms of brand, major, or price- but if you really want to study off-grid, these schools can help you get it done.
One other thing to know, every college that I write about is ALWAYS accredited, and almost always Regionally Accredited. Everything on this list is Regionally Accredited (gold standard- the best kind). You’ll want to keep in mind if you’re Googling non-traditional options, you might end up in a diploma mill or phony website. I encourage you to always confirm a college’s accreditation before giving them your time or money. You can do that easily at this US Department of Education’s College Look-up Link.
NOTE: in years past I’ve written about Ohio University, but they discontinued their program to new students effective August 2023.
Oklahoma State University (OK)
Called: OKState Individual Study –> Concurrent Enrollment
Eligibility: This is a back door way into the program. As a high school student, you must first apply to their concurrent enrollment program. That program is open to high school students. According to their website FAQ, “Once you are admitted as an OSU concurrent student, you have all the same options in classes as a regular full-time student. This means that you can enroll in any course you like as long as you meet all required prerequisites for the course.” It is that statement that leads me to recommend this program. Once admitted, you should be able to register for the Individual Study courses as usual. Concurrent students do have to meet eligibility admissions requirements (GPA/testing) and must pay tuition. Oklahoma residents get limited free tuition while out-of-state students pay $300 per credit (2023-2024).
Murray State University (KY)
The correspondence program is only open to high school graduates. It is offered through their for-credit continuing education division and can be used towards a degree. Contact the college directly, they do not advertise these courses on their website.
Colorado State University-Pueblo (CO)
The correspondence program is only open to high school graduates. They have a huge catalog of options and full degrees that can be completed this way. Tuition for these courses is $225 per credit.
“Our print-based correspondence courses are ideal for students without access to technology or the internet because all course correspondence is delivered by mail. All material for print-based courses is printed and mailed to students at the start of the course, and students mail back completed coursework for instructor feedback and grading.”
These degrees are available entirely using print-based correspondence learning:
- B.A. in Criminology
- B.S. in Criminology
- B.A. in Sociology
- B.S. in Sociology
- B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies
- B.S.B.A. in Business Management
Adams State University (CO)
This program offers courses, a paralegal certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or MBA done entirely through paper-based correspondence. The program is limited to high school graduates only. Note that this program exists to serve their Prison Education Program (PEP) but *is* open to anyone. As a correspondence student, there is no interaction with any other students, only the professor, so PEP affiliation does not present any added safety concerns.
Upper Iowa University (IA)
This program offers courses and degrees but is limited to high school graduates only. They have a wonderful transfer credit policy, allowing you to outsource up to 90 credits (outsourced credits could be done during high school!) Learn More
“With the paper-based format, students will receive a print or PDF version of the course syllabus. The course guide will include textbook information and detailed instructions for completing the course. The guide provides structured lessons that contain an introduction, assigned readings, and written assignments. Course guides for the paper-based option will be sent by U.S. mail or to the student’s University email address.”
