English Composition 1
A first college writing course that fits the high school English plan.
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →ArizonaHomeschool
Arizona ESA: start college-level courses in high school
Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
The short answer
For ESA Arizona families, yes. The Empowerment Scholarship Account law, A.R.S. 15-2402, lists tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program and tuition or fees at an eligible postsecondary institution as allowed uses. A homeschool high schooler can take college-level courses with ESA money, and the account can stay open after graduation while it is used for allowed costs. UPI Study is an approved vendor for the Arizona ESA.
The rule
A.R.S. 15-2402 lets an Arizona ESA pay tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program and at an eligible postsecondary institution, and after high school the account stays open unless the student goes 4 consecutive years without enrolling in an eligible postsecondary institution.
The rule asks for No credit count: the ESA covers allowed costs, not a number of credits. The legal source is A.R.S. 15-2402.
| Question | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Online learning program | Tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program are allowed, A.R.S. 15-2402(B)(4)(f) | [1] |
| College tuition | Tuition or fees at an eligible postsecondary institution are allowed, (B)(4)(h) | [1] |
| Textbooks | Textbooks required by an eligible postsecondary institution are allowed, (B)(4)(i) | [1] |
| After graduation | Account stays open while used for allowed costs each year | [1] |
| When it closes | After 4 consecutive years after graduation without postsecondary enrolment; money returns to the state | [1] |
Who decides
Arizona Department of Education, Empowerment Scholarship Account Program (payments through ClassWallet) decides how this rule applies to you. We read its published rule and the pages below; each was checked on 15 Nov 2026.
Which credits count
What counts
- Under A.R.S. 15-2402(B)(4)(f), tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program are an allowed ESA cost.
- Self-paced college-level courses with an ACE or NCCRS recommendation can sit on the high school transcript you keep as the parent.
- Later, a partner college may place the credit on its own transcript, which is the record a college reviews.
What does not count
- An ESA does not decide which college will give credit for a course; each college decides.
- Spending outside the allowed list in A.R.S. 15-2402 can be questioned by ADE, so keep invoices and course records.
- ESA money does not stay with the family: unused funds return to the state when the account closes.
Courses that fit
Each course below is ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended for college credit. Whether it counts here is the decision of the college and of Arizona Department of Education, Empowerment Scholarship Account Program (payments through ClassWallet).
College Algebra
A common college math course for juniors and seniors after Algebra II.
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
US History 1
Fits a high school American history year and a college general education slot.
Self-paced online US History 1 course (HIST 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Introduction to Psychology
A popular elective that many degree plans list as social science.
Self-paced online Introduction to Psychology course (Psychology 110). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Intro to Biology 1
A science course for students heading towards health or science degrees.
Self-paced online Intro to Biology 1 course (Biology 100). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Principles of Statistics
Useful for almost every degree and an easy fit after algebra.
Self-paced online Principles of Statistics course (Statistics 101). ACE and NCCRS recommend 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →The path via a college transcript
- Check your ESA contract and balanceSign in to the ESA portal, check the current year's award and any notes from ADE on allowed expenses before you buy.
- Pick the coursesChoose two to four college-level courses that fit your student's high school plan and the degrees they are thinking about.
- Pay through ClassWalletPay UPI Study through ClassWallet as an approved vendor, or follow ADE's current process for your account, and keep the invoice.
- Record it on the high school transcriptList each finished course on the homeschool transcript you keep, with the grade and the ACE or NCCRS recommendation.
- Move credit to a college transcript laterWhen your student is ready, a partner college such as TESU or UoPeople can review the courses so the credit appears via a college transcript.
TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit; ask the college your student plans to attend in writing whether it would consider that partner college's transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
What it costs
| Option | Price | For this rule | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI Study, homeschool lifetime | $250 once, every course | $250 gives homeschool families lifetime access to all UPI Study courses. | 15 Nov 2026 |
| ASU Universal Learner Courses | $25 to enrol, then $400 per course for ASU credit | 4 courses with credit: about $1,700 | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Study.com | $95 a month (two courses at a time) | Monthly; transcripts and exam fees are separate | 24 Oct 2026 |
| Sophia Learning | $99 a month, $299 for 4 months or $799 a year | Two courses at a time | 15 Nov 2026 |
ASU credit goes straight onto an ASU transcript; UPI Study credit needs the extra partner college step. Compare the total cost of the courses your student will actually take.
What UPI Study cannot do here
- UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited; it cannot award a high school diploma or decide what a college counts.
- UPI Study cannot change what ADE allows from an ESA or how long ClassWallet takes to pay.
- UPI Study cannot keep unused ESA money for a family; the law returns it to the state when the account closes.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
Confirm in writing first
Ask the college your student plans to attend, in writing, whether it would consider the courses via a college transcript before counting on them for a degree.
What is ESA in Arizona?
ESA stands for Empowerment Scholarship Account. The Arizona Department of Education deposits money into an account for each approved student, and the family spends it on the education costs listed in A.R.S. 15-2402. Every Arizona student can apply, and a family with an ESA contract does not also file a homeschool affidavit.
The award is set each year, and ADE publishes the current amount and payment schedule on its ESA pages. Check your own award letter and portal before planning a year of courses, because the figure differs by student.
- Run by the Arizona Department of Education, ESA Program.
- Spending runs through ClassWallet, entered from the ESA portal.
- Allowed costs are listed in A.R.S. 15-2402(B)(4).
How college-level courses fit the allowed list
Two items in the law matter for a high schooler who wants college-level work. Paragraph (f) allows tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program, which covers self-paced online courses such as UPI Study. Paragraph (h) allows tuition or fees at an eligible postsecondary institution, which covers dual enrolment and university programmes such as ASU Universal Learner Courses.
UPI Study is an approved vendor for the Arizona ESA, so a family can pay through ClassWallet. The courses carry ACE or NCCRS recommendations; whether a given college gives credit for them is that college's decision, made through a partner college transcript.
Arizona ESA parents' purchases: keep good records
ADE reviews ESA spending, and the budget debate for 2026-27 has focused on tightening allowable expenses. Keep every invoice, a short course description and your student's results, so you can show what each purchase was for.
A self-paced course also gives you a record for the homeschool transcript: the course name, the dates, the final grade and the credit recommendation.
- Keep the invoice and the ClassWallet receipt.
- Save the course description and syllabus.
- Note the final grade and completion date on your transcript.
What happens to the account after graduation
Under A.R.S. 15-2402(K), the account does not close at high school graduation. It stays open while the account holder keeps using part of the money for allowed costs each year. It closes after any four consecutive years after graduation in which the student is not enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution, and any money left goes back to the state.
That makes careful use in the last two years of high school worth planning: courses that may later count towards a degree are a good use of ESA money.
Questions people ask
What is ESA in Arizona?
ESA is Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account. The Arizona Department of Education puts money into an account for each approved student, and the family spends it through ClassWallet on costs listed in A.R.S. 15-2402, such as curricula, tutoring, online learning programs and postsecondary tuition. Every Arizona student can apply.
How do I apply for ESA in Arizona?
Apply through the Arizona Department of Education's ESA Applicant Portal at esa.azed.gov. If your student is approved, you sign an ESA contract, ADE funds the account, and you spend it through ClassWallet. ADE's ESA pages list the current dates, documents and award amounts.
Can Arizona ESA money pay for college-level courses?
Yes, within the allowed list. A.R.S. 15-2402 allows tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program and tuition or fees at an eligible postsecondary institution. UPI Study is an approved vendor for the Arizona ESA. Keep invoices and course records for ADE.
Do Arizona ESA funds expire after high school?
Not at graduation. Under A.R.S. 15-2402(K) the account stays open while some money is used for allowed costs each year. It closes after four consecutive years after graduation without enrolment in an eligible postsecondary institution, and the money left returns to the state.
Will a college give credit for these courses?
Each college decides. The courses carry ACE or NCCRS recommendations, and partner colleges such as TESU and UoPeople consider that kind of credit. Ask the college your student plans to attend, in writing, whether it would consider the partner college transcript.
How is UPI Study different from ASU Universal Learner Courses?
ASU charges $25 to enrol and $400 per course to add credit to an ASU transcript. UPI Study is self-paced with a one-time homeschool plan, and its credit reaches a college through a partner college transcript. Both can be ESA costs; compare total cost and the college your student wants.
Read next
- Can Arizona ESA funds pay for college-level courses in high school?Yes. A.R.S. 15-2402 lists tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program, and tuition or fees at an eligible postsecondary institution,...
- ASU Universal Learner vs self-paced NCCRS-recommended courses: cost per creditASU Universal Learner Courses cost $25 to enrol and $400 per course to add the credit to an ASU transcript, about $142 per credit for a three-credit...
- What to do with unused Arizona ESA funds before graduationUnused Arizona ESA funds stay in the account after high school graduation while the family keeps using some of it for allowed costs each year. Under...
The same topic in nearby states
Ready when you have it in writing
How to pay UPI Study through ClassWallet, step by step.
Sources
- Arizona Revised Statutes 15-2402: Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts; uses (official)Subsection B(4) allowed uses include (e) curricula, (f) tuition or fees for a nonpublic online learning program, (h) tuition or fees at an eligible postsecondary institution and (i) required textbooks; subsection K keeps the account open after graduation while funds are used each year, and closes it after four consecutive years without postsecondary enrolment. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- ASU Universal Learner Courses: FAQs (official)A $25 course enrolment fee, then $400 per course to add credit to an ASU transcript within one year of finishing; no age limit, and high school students may use the courses. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Arizona Department of Education: ESA ClassWallet page (official)Families enter ClassWallet through the ESA Applicant Portal to spend ESA funds (azed.gov blocks automated checks; wording from the archived copy recorded on 10 Jul 2026). Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- ASU Universal Learner Courses FAQsPrice for ASU Universal Learner Courses, checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Study.com college pricingPrice for Study.com, checked on 24 Oct 2026.
- Sophia plans and pricingPrice for Sophia Learning, checked on 15 Nov 2026.