For homeschool families looking to maximize college savings and accelerate learning, free college credit during high school is a game-changer. Below are five legitimate opportunities that allow your homeschooled high school student to earn transferable college credit at no cost during high school!
1. In-State Dual Enrollment / Dual Credit
Some of you, not all of you, have access to free dual enrollment programs through your state’s tax-funded program. While all states provide dual enrollment for public school students, it’s harder to access dual enrollment for homeschool students. These states not only allow you to access it, but you can access it for free. If you live in one of these states, you can stretch your budget by exhausting your local opportunities first. There are a lot of advantages to using a local program, especially in the long term. Each state has it’s own limits, eligibility, and requirements – some states allow your teen to earn a full degree for no cost (North Carolina) while others use a lottery to award college credits each year (Ohio) so if you live in one of these states, start by getting in our HS4CC Facebook group for your state and ask how how to get the most out of your state’s program. LINK California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming.
2. Anna Maria College (Massachusetts)
Open to students living in any state in 11th or 12th grade. Due to the selective and competitive nature of the Dual Enrollment program, not all applicants who apply will be admitted. Anna Maria College allows you to take a maximum of 2 free courses. If you choose general education courses, you increase the likelihood that those courses will work at any college in the future. Good courses to consider are English, Math, History, Language, Literature, Sociology, Government, Psychology, or Economics. LINK
3. Arizona State University Universal Learner (AZ)
Open to students living in any state in any grade. Open to students living in any state/any grade. ASU offers a 1-credit course, CIS194 Business Technology Fundamentals for just $25 to register. There’s no tuition, and once completed, you can add the course to an official ASU transcript at no additional cost. Normally, ASU Universal Learner courses begin with a $25 registration fee and then require a $400 fee to transcript the course onto your ASU transcript, but not this course! This course is $25 all in. LINK
4. Blue Ridge Community & Technical College (West Virginia)
Open to students living in any state in high school.1 free college credit Complete the self-paced online course and then submit for transcription through the link provided. There is no cost to complete the application and have the credit transcribed. The course teaches the basics of online learning and technology. LINK
5. California Baptist University (California)
Open to students living in any state in 10th through 12th grade. 1 free college course to any student in 10th- 12th grade. Depending on the course, the student may have extra fees for textbooks or lab. No placement exams are required, but students must have a 2.5 GPA or higher. Each student can take one 3-credit course for free. Additional courses are billed at $166 per credit ($498 per course). LINK
