FAQFor high school specific questions, please see the HIGH SCHOOL FAQ page.
Many of your questions may already be answered somewhere on the site. We recommend you carefully read everything over, especially in the GET STARTED and DESIGN YOUR PLAN sections. If you can't find an answer to a specific question or need clarification on something, we can be reached through the CONTACT page. |
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IS THIS REALLY LEGITIMATE?
Yes. It really is. Homeschool College USA is all about showing you how you can earn a fully accredited college degree from home, for a fraction of the cost of going off to college or a university. This is not a fake degree plan or a front for diploma mills.
CAN ANYONE DO THIS?
For the most part. There aren't any prerequisites for getting started, not even a high school diploma. Just be aware that it does require discipline. Of course, all methods of earning college degrees require that to some extent, but in this case, you have less guidance and hand-holding than a student living on campus and going to class. (Please note, students not living in the United States: You should speak with a counselor at Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak State College, and/or Excelsior College before you get started, to be certain you'll be able to matriculate at the school and earn your degree. Also, make sure you are able to take college-level exams like CLEPs wherever you live.)
WHERE DO I START?
Right where you would think, under the GET STARTED tab. You'll want to read everything there first, then move on to the DESIGN YOUR PLAN section.
HOW DO I ENROLL AT HOMESCHOOL COLLEGE USA?
You don't. PLEASE do not email us and ask this question! We get it a lot, despite the fact that we say several times: HOMESCHOOL COLLEGE USA IS NOT A SCHOOL. Use the resources here to build a degree plan and study for any college level exams you will be taking. Eventually, you will enroll in your school of choice, but that won't be until you are close to completing all your necessary credits, and when that time comes, you can enroll from the school's website.
WHEN CAN I START?
Any time you want. You can start today.
HOW MUCH DOES HOMESCHOOL COLLEGE USA COST?
HC USA is free. Your costs come from paying exam or course fees, but those go straight to the companies and/or schools.
HOW MUCH WILL MY DEGREE COST?
Now that really does depend on many factors. The school, the type of degree, how many courses you take versus college-level exams... all these things impact your total costs. At the very minimum, plan on it being at least $8000. The average is probably somewhere closer to $15,000. If that seems like a lot to you, remember, the average cost of one year of tuition, fees, room, and board, paying in-state costs at a public/state college or university is $17,860. We are showing you how to earn your entire degree for less than that.
CAN I USE FINANCIAL AID TO PAY FOR MY DEGREE?
You can use financial aid to pay tuition for online courses (or local college courses) taken through accredited schools. You cannot use it to pay for college-level exams or StraighterLine courses. You can use it when you enroll in your school of choice to pay enrollment fees and tuition for capstone courses.
NOTE: If you plan on using financial aid to finish out your degree at one of the Big Three schools, or anywhere else for that matter, please be advised that they usually have a minimum number of credit hours you must be enrolled in, in order to use your aid. This means, if you try to transfer in with 117 or your 120 credits, you could have a problem. If you will be using FA, reserve 3 - 6 additional credits, along with the capstone course, to take during your first and only term at the school. You can take an online course directly through the school while also completing your capstone. (Charter Oak students: You'll already need both a cornerstone and capstone course. You may not be able to take them together. If you plan to enroll at COSC and use financial aid, plan for taking 4 courses total at the school.)
There is one way you might be able to use financial aid to pay for college-level exams or courses through StraighterLine, but this could potentially lead to getting more in loan debt than you should, so be very careful and pay close attention to what you are doing. If you apply for financial aid and register at a school, if there is any money left over in your account for the term, it is typically sent to you. You could then use this money to pay for exams.
If you qualify for a Pell Grant, we recommend you check out Clovis Community College. They have many online courses, and even with out-of-state tuition prices, you will only pay about $320 per 3-credit course (plus books.) This has the potential of paying for your school and giving you some money to use toward other credit options for your degree.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO FINISH MY DEGREE?
That depends on how much time you can devote to it each week, plus your natural aptitude in certain subjects, plus whether or not you already have some credits. The fastest we ever heard was of a person who earned a BA in 4 weeks. (!!!) Just be aware that his site is outdated now because several things have changed since he wrote it. Many students are able to finish in a year or two. Plan on at least 3 years if you are starting from scratch with no previous credits. You may find you can work faster and finish it in less time, but be aware that at least 3 years is a good estimate.
WHICH COLLEGE OF THE BIG THREE IS BEST?
That is entirely a matter of opinion. Check out all three schools and see which one suits you best.
WHAT ABOUT THE SAT TEST?
If you're using a Big Three school, you will not need the SAT or ACT exams in order to enroll. Otherwise, we have a test prep page of free resources you can use.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE A MAJOR PICKED OUT ALREADY TO GET STARTED?
You do not have to decide on your major immediately. You can consider yourself "undeclared" and start working on your general education requirements. Just note that the sooner you do make a decision, the sooner you can build your full degree plan.
I HAVE SOME COLLEGE CREDITS FROM THE EARLY 90s. CAN I USE THOSE NOW?
Probably. As long as they were earned at a regionally accredited school and aren't in a subject considered outdated - like certain computer science fields - the Big Three will most likely accept them. The question will be where they apply, depending on what they are and what you choose for your degree. In some cases, if you have a D letter grade, the credits might not transfer.
I'M REALLY ONLY INTERESTED IN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. CAN I EARN ONE THROUGH THESE SAME METHODS?
Yes. Of course. You'll just need to visit the schools' websites and find out the specific degree requirements.
CAN I EARN A DEGREE FROM ONE OF THE BIG THREE AND THEN GO ON TO GRADUATE SCHOOL?
Yes. The Big Three are all accredited schools. You can go on to earn a Master's with one of their BA or BS degrees behind you. Just note that there is no guarantee you will get in to the graduate school of your preference, and also, make sure you fully understand exactly what the requirements for any program you are considering are. Some graduate schools are very picky about what they see on your transcripts and may not want certain course credits to be earned through college-level exams. (Thomas Edison State College and Excelsior have online Master's degree programs, if you are interested.)
HOW COME I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANY OF THIS BEFORE?
Despite the fact that TESC, COSC, and Excelsior (formerly called Regents) have been around since the early 70s, most people are totally unaware of the schools and the fantastic opportunities they present. For what ever reason - insert your own conspiracy theory here - this is probably the best-kept secret in all of higher education. No matter how many articles you read bemoaning the high costs of college, you never seem to find a reporter who suggests this as an alternative. No matter how many times you hear a politician commiserate with young college students about their massive loans, you never seem to find one who mentions there are ways to do this without the great debt. You can help with that, though. Tell everyone you know. Blog about it. Mention it on Facebook. Make comments on forum boards. Help spread the word.
DO I HAVE TO BUY THE BOOKS LISTED ON THE SUBJECT COURSE PAGES?
Absolutely not! They are mentioned if you need extra help, but definitely try all the free resources first!
I'VE HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AT THE SAME TIME. IS THIS POSSIBLE?
Yes. You can plan both a high school diploma and college degree at the same time. Consider it the ultimate form of dual enrollment. Essentially, you will work backwards. First, plan out the college degree, then go back and figure out how and where those credits could apply as a high school course. Be creative. For instance, if you look at the exam description for the CLEP Natural Science exam, you will see it covers topics in earth science, chemistry, biology, and physics. With this one CLEP (a college-level exam, remember), you can have all your high school science subjects completed.
In some ways, the backwards planning is unnecessary. Generally speaking, once you have a college degree, no one cares much what you did in high school and you will probably never even have an opportunity to show those high school transcripts to anyone. Still, it's nice to have.
And yes, this does also mean you can graduate college at 18, or even younger, depending on when you start and how quickly you earn your credits.
WHAT DO ALL THESE CRAZY ACRONYMS MEAN?
There do seem to be a lot of acronyms in the online education world. Here are some of the more common ones:
CBE - credit by exam
CLEP - College Level Exam Program
DSST - Dantes Standardized Subject Tests
AP - Advanced Placement
ECE - Excelsior College Exams
TECEP - Thomas Edison College Exam Program
EPC - end-point college
SL - StraighterLine
TESC - Thomas Edison State College
COSC - Charter Oak State College
EC - Excelsior College
FA - financial aid
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
CP - College Plus
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS. WHO CAN I TALK WITH?
If your questions aren't answered here or anywhere else on the site, you can use the CONTACT form to reach us directly.
Yes. It really is. Homeschool College USA is all about showing you how you can earn a fully accredited college degree from home, for a fraction of the cost of going off to college or a university. This is not a fake degree plan or a front for diploma mills.
CAN ANYONE DO THIS?
For the most part. There aren't any prerequisites for getting started, not even a high school diploma. Just be aware that it does require discipline. Of course, all methods of earning college degrees require that to some extent, but in this case, you have less guidance and hand-holding than a student living on campus and going to class. (Please note, students not living in the United States: You should speak with a counselor at Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak State College, and/or Excelsior College before you get started, to be certain you'll be able to matriculate at the school and earn your degree. Also, make sure you are able to take college-level exams like CLEPs wherever you live.)
WHERE DO I START?
Right where you would think, under the GET STARTED tab. You'll want to read everything there first, then move on to the DESIGN YOUR PLAN section.
HOW DO I ENROLL AT HOMESCHOOL COLLEGE USA?
You don't. PLEASE do not email us and ask this question! We get it a lot, despite the fact that we say several times: HOMESCHOOL COLLEGE USA IS NOT A SCHOOL. Use the resources here to build a degree plan and study for any college level exams you will be taking. Eventually, you will enroll in your school of choice, but that won't be until you are close to completing all your necessary credits, and when that time comes, you can enroll from the school's website.
WHEN CAN I START?
Any time you want. You can start today.
HOW MUCH DOES HOMESCHOOL COLLEGE USA COST?
HC USA is free. Your costs come from paying exam or course fees, but those go straight to the companies and/or schools.
HOW MUCH WILL MY DEGREE COST?
Now that really does depend on many factors. The school, the type of degree, how many courses you take versus college-level exams... all these things impact your total costs. At the very minimum, plan on it being at least $8000. The average is probably somewhere closer to $15,000. If that seems like a lot to you, remember, the average cost of one year of tuition, fees, room, and board, paying in-state costs at a public/state college or university is $17,860. We are showing you how to earn your entire degree for less than that.
CAN I USE FINANCIAL AID TO PAY FOR MY DEGREE?
You can use financial aid to pay tuition for online courses (or local college courses) taken through accredited schools. You cannot use it to pay for college-level exams or StraighterLine courses. You can use it when you enroll in your school of choice to pay enrollment fees and tuition for capstone courses.
NOTE: If you plan on using financial aid to finish out your degree at one of the Big Three schools, or anywhere else for that matter, please be advised that they usually have a minimum number of credit hours you must be enrolled in, in order to use your aid. This means, if you try to transfer in with 117 or your 120 credits, you could have a problem. If you will be using FA, reserve 3 - 6 additional credits, along with the capstone course, to take during your first and only term at the school. You can take an online course directly through the school while also completing your capstone. (Charter Oak students: You'll already need both a cornerstone and capstone course. You may not be able to take them together. If you plan to enroll at COSC and use financial aid, plan for taking 4 courses total at the school.)
There is one way you might be able to use financial aid to pay for college-level exams or courses through StraighterLine, but this could potentially lead to getting more in loan debt than you should, so be very careful and pay close attention to what you are doing. If you apply for financial aid and register at a school, if there is any money left over in your account for the term, it is typically sent to you. You could then use this money to pay for exams.
If you qualify for a Pell Grant, we recommend you check out Clovis Community College. They have many online courses, and even with out-of-state tuition prices, you will only pay about $320 per 3-credit course (plus books.) This has the potential of paying for your school and giving you some money to use toward other credit options for your degree.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO FINISH MY DEGREE?
That depends on how much time you can devote to it each week, plus your natural aptitude in certain subjects, plus whether or not you already have some credits. The fastest we ever heard was of a person who earned a BA in 4 weeks. (!!!) Just be aware that his site is outdated now because several things have changed since he wrote it. Many students are able to finish in a year or two. Plan on at least 3 years if you are starting from scratch with no previous credits. You may find you can work faster and finish it in less time, but be aware that at least 3 years is a good estimate.
WHICH COLLEGE OF THE BIG THREE IS BEST?
That is entirely a matter of opinion. Check out all three schools and see which one suits you best.
WHAT ABOUT THE SAT TEST?
If you're using a Big Three school, you will not need the SAT or ACT exams in order to enroll. Otherwise, we have a test prep page of free resources you can use.
DO I HAVE TO HAVE A MAJOR PICKED OUT ALREADY TO GET STARTED?
You do not have to decide on your major immediately. You can consider yourself "undeclared" and start working on your general education requirements. Just note that the sooner you do make a decision, the sooner you can build your full degree plan.
I HAVE SOME COLLEGE CREDITS FROM THE EARLY 90s. CAN I USE THOSE NOW?
Probably. As long as they were earned at a regionally accredited school and aren't in a subject considered outdated - like certain computer science fields - the Big Three will most likely accept them. The question will be where they apply, depending on what they are and what you choose for your degree. In some cases, if you have a D letter grade, the credits might not transfer.
I'M REALLY ONLY INTERESTED IN AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE. CAN I EARN ONE THROUGH THESE SAME METHODS?
Yes. Of course. You'll just need to visit the schools' websites and find out the specific degree requirements.
CAN I EARN A DEGREE FROM ONE OF THE BIG THREE AND THEN GO ON TO GRADUATE SCHOOL?
Yes. The Big Three are all accredited schools. You can go on to earn a Master's with one of their BA or BS degrees behind you. Just note that there is no guarantee you will get in to the graduate school of your preference, and also, make sure you fully understand exactly what the requirements for any program you are considering are. Some graduate schools are very picky about what they see on your transcripts and may not want certain course credits to be earned through college-level exams. (Thomas Edison State College and Excelsior have online Master's degree programs, if you are interested.)
HOW COME I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANY OF THIS BEFORE?
Despite the fact that TESC, COSC, and Excelsior (formerly called Regents) have been around since the early 70s, most people are totally unaware of the schools and the fantastic opportunities they present. For what ever reason - insert your own conspiracy theory here - this is probably the best-kept secret in all of higher education. No matter how many articles you read bemoaning the high costs of college, you never seem to find a reporter who suggests this as an alternative. No matter how many times you hear a politician commiserate with young college students about their massive loans, you never seem to find one who mentions there are ways to do this without the great debt. You can help with that, though. Tell everyone you know. Blog about it. Mention it on Facebook. Make comments on forum boards. Help spread the word.
DO I HAVE TO BUY THE BOOKS LISTED ON THE SUBJECT COURSE PAGES?
Absolutely not! They are mentioned if you need extra help, but definitely try all the free resources first!
I'VE HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AT THE SAME TIME. IS THIS POSSIBLE?
Yes. You can plan both a high school diploma and college degree at the same time. Consider it the ultimate form of dual enrollment. Essentially, you will work backwards. First, plan out the college degree, then go back and figure out how and where those credits could apply as a high school course. Be creative. For instance, if you look at the exam description for the CLEP Natural Science exam, you will see it covers topics in earth science, chemistry, biology, and physics. With this one CLEP (a college-level exam, remember), you can have all your high school science subjects completed.
In some ways, the backwards planning is unnecessary. Generally speaking, once you have a college degree, no one cares much what you did in high school and you will probably never even have an opportunity to show those high school transcripts to anyone. Still, it's nice to have.
And yes, this does also mean you can graduate college at 18, or even younger, depending on when you start and how quickly you earn your credits.
WHAT DO ALL THESE CRAZY ACRONYMS MEAN?
There do seem to be a lot of acronyms in the online education world. Here are some of the more common ones:
CBE - credit by exam
CLEP - College Level Exam Program
DSST - Dantes Standardized Subject Tests
AP - Advanced Placement
ECE - Excelsior College Exams
TECEP - Thomas Edison College Exam Program
EPC - end-point college
SL - StraighterLine
TESC - Thomas Edison State College
COSC - Charter Oak State College
EC - Excelsior College
FA - financial aid
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
CP - College Plus
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS. WHO CAN I TALK WITH?
If your questions aren't answered here or anywhere else on the site, you can use the CONTACT form to reach us directly.
