College Algebra
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →New JerseyHomeschool
County college or online: where NJ teens start
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
New Jersey homeschooled teens usually start college-level work in one of three places: their county college, Thomas Edison State University from age 16 with self-direction, or online courses that carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations. The right start depends on age, budget and where the teen will finish a degree. Ask that college in writing first.
Three ways to start
A county college gives a teen a real college transcript and, often, a classroom. TESU lets students 16 and older enrol online if they show self-direction, with a 9-credit first semester. Online courses with ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations let a teen start at any age and pace at home, and the credit is reviewed later when they enrol at a college.
Each route can make sense. The question is which one the teen's future college will count.
County college
Many New Jersey county colleges admit high school-age students to individual courses, and homeschoolers usually apply the same way. Rules on age, placement tests and tuition vary by county, so read your own county college's page for high school students and ask the admissions office directly. A grade on a county college transcript is the most widely understood kind of transfer credit.
TESU from 16
TESU admits applicants from 16 who show self-direction, for example 6 college credits with a C or better, 12 credits through a TESU Professional Learning Review, or 6 AP credits, or who complete a no-cost online orientation course. Students 16 to 20 may take 9 credits in their first semester. New Jersey residents pay $449 a credit.
Online at home
Online providers with ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations let a teen start earlier and work at their own pace, and the course counts on the homeschool transcript either way. TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Other colleges decide for themselves, so ask the likely college before you buy a course for credit.
UPI Study's homeschool plan covers composition, algebra, history, psychology, biology and statistics, among others. It is not a college and does not issue a transcript of its own grades as college credit; credit moves via a college transcript.
| Option | Price | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| TESU, NJ resident | $449 a credit | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Sophia Learning | $99 a month or $799 a year | 15 Nov 2026 |
| StraighterLine | $99 a month plus $79 a course | 15 Nov 2026 |
How to choose
If your teen is under 16, online courses are the usual start, counted on the homeschool transcript. From 16, a county college or TESU adds a college transcript. If your teen expects to finish a degree at TESU, ask TESU first how it would treat each course. If they expect a four-year campus, ask that campus, because selective colleges sometimes treat outside credit differently from TESU.
Whatever you pick, put the question in writing and keep the answer with your homeschool records.
- Under 16: online, counted on your transcript
- 16 and up: county college or TESU
- Always: ask the finishing college in writing
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
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.
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.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Can homeschoolers take county college classes in New Jersey?
Many New Jersey county colleges admit high school-age students to individual courses, and homeschoolers usually apply the same way. Age, placement and tuition rules vary by county, so check your own county college's page and ask admissions directly.
What is the cheapest way for a NJ teen to start college-level courses?
Online subscriptions such as Sophia Learning at $99 a month can cost less per course than TESU's $449 a credit, but they help only if the college your teen will attend counts them. Ask that college in writing first.
Do college courses count on a homeschool transcript?
Yes. New Jersey does not review homeschool curricula, so a parent can list a college-level course on the high school transcript. College credit is a separate question that the college decides when your teen enrols.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Introduction to Psychology
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 →
Principles of Statistics
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 →Start 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
- 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.
- 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.