As homeschooling continues to grow in popularity, many families are looking for ways to give their students a head start in higher education. One of the most effective strategies is earning college credits while still in high school.
Not only can this save A LOT of time and money, but it also helps students ease into the college experience with greater confidence. Here’s how homeschool students can begin earning college credits—and what parents should know to support them.
Let’s explore the various ways your homeschool student can earn college credits and how you can support them through the process.
Why College Credits Matter for Your Homeschool Student
Before diving into the options, it’s worth understanding why this matters. College credits earned in high school can help your student graduate college faster, reduce your family’s education costs, and provide more flexibility in their college schedule. For homeschool students specifically, these credits also help demonstrate academic rigor to college admissions officers.
Dual Enrollment: Your Best Option
Dual enrollment programs are often the most straightforward path for homeschool families. Your student takes actual college courses and receives both high school and college credit simultaneously. It’s an efficient way to make progress on both fronts.
Most community colleges welcome homeschool students into their dual enrollment programs, and many four-year universities offer them as well. The courses can be taken online or in-person, and some institutions have programs designed specifically for homeschoolers. You’ll need to work with your student to ensure they meet the requirements, which typically include being at least 16 years old and having adequate academic preparation.
As the parent, you’ll likely need to handle the enrollment paperwork and coordinate with the college’s dual enrollment coordinator. Many homeschool parents find it helpful to start with just one course to see how their student handles the college-level workload.
Exams for College Credit
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AP, CLEP, and DSST exams allow students to take exams to earn college credit. However, passing these exams is not a guarantee for college credit. It is very important to know if the college or university of your choice will accept these exams for credit. Make sure you do your research when choosing colleges and plan accordingly if you want your student to earn college credits by examination.
Which Colleges Accept Exam Credits?
That is an excellent question. Most colleges and universities accept Advanced Placement (AP) exams, but your student may need to have a minimum score for the school to accept the AP exam credits. For example, when I was a student at the University of Virginia, they would not accept my U.S. History AP exam credit since I scored a 3. If I scored a 4, I would have gotten credit.
In the traditional setting, AP exams are taken in conjunction with attending a year-long course, however this is not a requirement for homeschool students. However, students can only take AP exams at a certain time during the year.
AP Exams
Here’s something many homeschool parents don’t realize: your student doesn’t need to take formal AP classes to take AP exams. You can incorporate AP-level material into your homeschool curriculum and have your student take the exams in May. If they score well (typically a 3 or higher), most colleges will award credit.
You’ll need to register your student for AP exams through a local high school or homeschool cooperative. Start this process early, as there are registration deadlines. Popular AP subjects for homeschoolers include English Literature, U.S. History, Psychology, Biology, and Calculus.
Consider purchasing AP prep books or online courses to supplement your regular curriculum. Many homeschool parents find that spending a few months focused on AP test preparation is well worth the potential college credit.
CLEP Exams
Many colleges and universities in the U.S. accept both CLEP and DSST exams for college credit towards an undergraduate degree. College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams are run by the College Board, the same organization that administers AP and SAT exams.
To find out which colleges accept CLEP exams, you can search by school by visiting this page:
CLEP College Credit Policy Search
You can also search which schools will accept a specific CLEP exam. For example, running a search for the American Government CLEP in Alabama generated 27 results, which include Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, and Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
You can also view a school’s CLEP policy. For instance, Alabama A&M University awards credits for many CLEP exams with a minimum score of 50. They even award up to 12 credits for a single language CLEP exam, French and Spanish Language Level II!
There are 34 CLEP exams available that cover introductory college level courses, such as history, social science, and business. They vary in level of difficulty, so make sure your student chooses to take exams that he or she is prepared for.
DSST Exams
Students may also take DSST exams for college credit. DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) exams are managed by Prometric, and there are 37 DSST exams available. DSST exams are similar to CLEP exams, as students can earn college credit by taking and passing exams. However, DSST also offer more specialized subjects that may give credit for upper level courses.
It’s important to know which colleges and universities will award credits for DSST exams. You can visit their page, Credit-Awarding Schools, to get more information about DSST exams.
How Much Do Exams Cost?
CLEP Exams
CLEP exams cost is $93 per exam. Testing centers may charge an administrative fee.
DSST Exams
The DSST exam fee is $100 per exam fee. The testing center may include an administrative fee as well.
If you think about the cost of a single college course and how long it takes to pass one, taking an exam is a bargain in comparison. For example, a public four year college is at least $400 per credit. And if the student is out-of-state, the cost is more than $1100 per credit. So for one college course, you would be paying over $3,000 for a single class for out-of-state students!
Just one CLEP or DANTES exam is about $100, and a student can earn at least 3 college credits for passing a single exam. This saves students a lot of time and money.
And it is possible for a student to even earn an entire college degree, just by taking exams and earning college credits.
How I Hacked a College Degree by Taking Exams
I earned my college degree online from Excelsior College. Although I attended several colleges and universities, I didn’t have enough credits to graduate.
I took CLEP and DSST exams to complete my college degree. I earned a fully accredited bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, and have completed two master’s degrees since then. For the full story, you can read my article about How I Hacked My College Degree by Taking Exams for Credit.
Taking exams is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to earn college credit!
The Bottom Line for Homeschool Parents
Helping your homeschool student earn college credits is one of the best investments you can make in their education. Whether you choose dual enrollment, AP exams, CLEP tests, or a combination of options, you’re giving your student a significant advantage when they start college.
The key is starting your research early, staying organized with documentation, and not being afraid to reach out to colleges with questions. Most admissions offices are experienced in working with homeschool families and are happy to help you understand your options.
Remember, every college credit your student earns now is one less you’ll need to pay for later – and that’s a win for any homeschool family’s budget. Take the time to explore these options and find what works best for your student’s learning style and your family’s situation.