English Composition 1
A first-year writing course most degrees include.
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →New JerseyHomeschool
New Jersey homeschool to college: start college-level courses now, move them to TESU later
Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
The short answer
New Jersey homeschool law is light: N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 lets children aged 6 to 16 receive equivalent instruction at home, with no curriculum approval or required tests. Homeschoolers get no state-endorsed diploma from the school board, but the Department of Education describes a 30-college-credit route to a State High School Diploma. Thomas Edison State University is a New Jersey public university.
The rule
Under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 a child aged 6 to 16 may receive equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school, including at home, and the New Jersey Department of Education says a homeschooled student can earn a New Jersey State High School Diploma by passing the GED or by completing 30 general education credits toward a degree at an accredited college and meeting the state test requirement.
The rule asks for 30 college general education credits (State High School Diploma route); TESU limits students aged 16 to 20 to 9 credits in the first semester. The legal source is N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25.
| Rule | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory ages | 6 to 16, equivalent instruction at home allowed (N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25) | [1] |
| Curriculum review | Board may not review or approve it | [1] |
| Tests | No state or district test required | [1] |
| Diploma | No board diploma; State High School Diploma by GED or 30 college credits plus state test | [1] |
| TESU age | 20 or older, or 16 and up with self-direction | [2] |
| TESU first semester | 9-credit limit for ages 16 to 20 | [2] |
Who decides
New Jersey Department of Education (homeschool guidance); Thomas Edison State University, Office of Admissions 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
- Courses on a regionally accredited college's transcript, which colleges review in their usual transfer process.
- Credit from ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, which TESU as a partner college considers, once the credit is on a college transcript or posted by TESU.
- Parent-issued high school records: New Jersey does not review homeschool curricula, so the parent's transcript describes the work.
What does not count
- A state-endorsed diploma from the local board of education: the Department says homeschoolers do not receive one.
- Course certificates sent straight to a college in place of a transcript.
- An assumption that credit moves on its own: each college, TESU included, decides how a course counts.
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 New Jersey Department of Education (homeschool guidance); Thomas Edison State University, Office of Admissions.
College Algebra
A common maths starting point for high school juniors and seniors.
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
Doubles as high school history and a college general education course.
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 first social science course.
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 teens planning health or science study.
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 many majors later.
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
- Keep your homeschool recordsNew Jersey does not review your curriculum, so keep a course list, grades and work samples, and issue your own transcript.
- Pick first coursesStart with general education courses such as composition, algebra or history that fit both your high school plan and most degrees.
- Ask the college firstEmail TESU admissions, or the college your teen may attend, and ask in writing how it would treat each course and at what age your teen can enrol.
- Take the coursesStudy at your own pace and keep each syllabus and score report.
- Move credit via a college transcriptWhen your teen enrols, the credit is reviewed and posted by the college; TESU considers ACE-recommended and NCCRS-recommended credit.
TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit; TESU is a New Jersey public university, so it is the natural first question for New Jersey families.
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 |
| TESU courses (New Jersey resident) | $449 a credit (from the August 2026 term) | $1,347 for one 3-credit course; $13,470 for 30 credits | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Sophia Learning | $99 a month, or $799 a year | About $99-$198 a course, depending on pace | 15 Nov 2026 |
| StraighterLine | $99 a month plus $79 a course | About $178-$277 a course over 1-2 months | 15 Nov 2026 |
TESU's rates were approved on 12 June 2026; out-of-state students pay $584 a credit. Families pay for these courses themselves. Compare only after the college your teen will attend has said in writing how it treats each course.
What UPI Study cannot do here
- UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited; our courses carry ACE or NCCRS recommendations.
- We cannot issue a high school diploma or a New Jersey State High School Diploma.
- We do not publish a course-by-course map to a TESU degree, and we cannot say which TESU requirement a course will meet.
- We cannot decide TESU admission or the age waiver; TESU does.
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 TESU, or the college your teen plans to attend, in writing how it will treat each course before you enrol, and confirm the State High School Diploma route with the Department of Education.
New Jersey homeschool requirements in short
New Jersey's compulsory attendance law, N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, covers children between 6 and 16 and allows equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school, which includes the home. The Department of Education's homeschool FAQ says the local board of education is not required or authorized to review and approve a homeschool curriculum, parents do not need teacher certification, and a homeschooled child does not have to sit a state or district standardized test.
Under State v. Massa (1967), parents need to show academic equivalency with the local public school, not social equivalency. The Department encourages, but in most cases does not require, a letter telling the local board you are homeschooling. Removing an enrolled high school student is different: that needs a transfer form.
Diplomas and the 30-credit route
A child educated at home does not receive a state-endorsed diploma from the board of education. Most homeschool families issue their own diploma and transcript. The Department's FAQ also describes a New Jersey State High School Diploma, earned by passing the GED or by completing 30 general education credits toward a degree at an accredited college and reaching proficiency on the state test.
That 30-credit route is one reason college-level courses in the high school years are worth planning. Confirm the current test requirement with the Department before you rely on it, because state tests have changed since the FAQ was written.
Why TESU fits New Jersey families
Thomas Edison State University is a New Jersey public university built for adults who bring credit from many places. Applicants must be 20 or older, or at least 16 and able to show self-direction, for example with 6 college credits passed with a C or better, 12 credits through a TESU Professional Learning Review, or 6 AP credits. Students aged 16 to 20 who cannot show that complete a no-cost online orientation course, and all students aged 16 to 20 are limited to 9 credits in their first semester. TESU accepts a secondary home school diploma that meets New Jersey's rules.
- Age 20 or older, or 16 and up with self-direction
- 9-credit limit in the first semester for ages 16 to 20
- $449 a credit for New Jersey residents
Where college-level courses fit
Courses with ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations let a teen work at college level at home, at their own pace, and count the course as high school work on the parent's transcript. TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. When your teen later enrols, the college reviews the credit and decides where it fits. Ask in writing before you plan a whole year around it.
Questions people ask
What are the homeschool laws in New Jersey?
N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 lets children aged 6 to 16 receive equivalent instruction at home. The Department of Education says the school board cannot review or approve your curriculum, parents need no teaching certificate, and no state or district test is required. Parents show academic equivalency.
Do I have to register my homeschool in New Jersey?
In most cases no. The Department of Education encourages parents to notify the local board of education. Notice is needed if you remove an enrolled high school student, who needs a transfer form, or after a registration denial.
How does a New Jersey homeschooler get a diploma?
The board of education does not issue one to homeschoolers, so most parents issue their own. The Department of Education also describes a State High School Diploma by passing the GED or by completing 30 college general education credits and meeting the state test requirement.
Can a homeschooled teen enrol at Thomas Edison State University?
TESU admits applicants aged 20 or older, or 16 and up who show self-direction, for example 6 college credits with a C or better, or who complete a no-cost orientation course. Students 16 to 20 are limited to 9 credits in their first semester.
Does TESU take UPI Study courses?
TESU is a partner college that considers ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit, and it decides how each course counts toward a degree. Ask TESU admissions in writing about the specific courses before your teen enrols.
What college-level courses should a New Jersey homeschooler start with?
General education courses fit most degrees: English composition, college algebra, US history, introduction to psychology and biology. They also count as high school work on the parent's transcript. Ask the college your teen expects to attend how it would treat each one before you start.
Read next
- From homeschool to Thomas Edison State University: how it worksA New Jersey homeschooler can apply to Thomas Edison State University at 20, or from 16 by showing self-direction or completing a no-cost orientation...
- New Jersey homeschool law in plain wordsNew Jersey homeschool laws come down to one statute, N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, which lets children aged 6 to 16 receive equivalent instruction at home. The...
- County college or online: where NJ teens startNew Jersey homeschooled teens usually start college-level work in one of three places: their county college, Thomas Edison State University from age...
The same topic in nearby states
- New York homeschool teens: plan the 24 college credits for a High School Equivalency diplomaNew York
- Homeschool Pennsylvania: college-level courses that count toward your Act 196 diplomaPennsylvania
- Too young for Career & College Promise? College-level courses for NC homeschool 9th and 10th gradersNorth Carolina
Ready when you have it in writing
Start English, maths and history at college level at home, then move any credit via a college transcript when your teen enrols.
Sources
- NJ Department of Education: Frequently Asked Questions, Homeschooling (official)N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25 covers children between 6 and 16 and allows equivalent instruction elsewhere than at school; the board may not review or approve the curriculum; parents need no teacher certification; no state or district standardized test is required; homeschoolers do not receive a state-endorsed diploma from the board; State High School Diploma by GED or 30 general education credits plus state test proficiency; State v. Massa (1967) academic equivalency. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- TESU: Admission Requirements (official)Applicants must be 20 or older, or at least 16 and show self-direction (for example 6 credits from an accredited institution with a C or higher, 12 credits through a TESU Professional Learning Review, or 6 AP credits), or complete a no-cost online orientation course; students 16 to 20 are limited to 9 credits in the first semester; a high school diploma, GED or secondary home school diploma meeting state requirements is needed. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- TESU: Undergraduate Tuition (official)$449 a credit for New Jersey residents and $584 for out-of-state residents, approved 12 June 2026 and effective from the August 2026 term; flat rate $3,595 a term for New Jersey residents taking 9 to 18 credits. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- HSLDA: New Jersey homeschool lawSummary of New Jersey homeschool law for families. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- TESU: Undergraduate TuitionPrice for TESU courses (New Jersey resident), checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Sophia Learning: Plans and pricingPrice for Sophia Learning, checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- StraighterLine: PricingPrice for StraighterLine, checked on 15 Nov 2026.