English Composition 1
Builds the writing CCP's English transfer course expects.
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →North CarolinaHomeschool
Too young for Career & College Promise? College-level courses for NC homeschool 9th and 10th graders
Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
The short answer
Career and College Promise lets registered North Carolina home-school students take community college courses tuition-free, but the College Transfer Pathway opens in 11th grade with a 2.8 unweighted GPA or college-ready test scores. Freshmen and sophomores qualify only if identified as gifted and college-ready, under 1D SBCCC 400.11. Many families use 9th and 10th grade to build skills first.
The rule
Under 1D SBCCC 400.11 and G.S. 115D-20, a high school junior or senior, including a registered home-school student, may enter a College Transfer Pathway with an unweighted cumulative GPA of 2.8 or college-ready test scores, while freshmen and sophomores must be identified as gifted, show college readiness, and get the college's approval.
The rule asks for Juniors and seniors: 2.8 unweighted GPA or college-ready scores; 2.0 college GPA to stay. The legal source is 1D SBCCC 400.11.
| Student | CCP College Transfer Pathway rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juniors and seniors | Unweighted cumulative GPA 2.8, or college-ready scores on an approved assessment, or prior supplemental coursework | [1] |
| Freshmen and sophomores | Identified as gifted (local AIG plan or 92nd-99th percentile), college-ready in English, reading and maths, principal and college approval, parent consent | [1] |
| Home-school students | Eligible; the home school documents eligibility with a transcript | [1] |
| Cost | Tuition paid by the NC General Assembly for eligible students | [2] |
| To stay in | 2.0 GPA in college coursework after two courses; progress toward graduation | [1] |
| Graduates | Not eligible | [2] |
Who decides
North Carolina Community College System (State Board of Community Colleges); NC Department of Public Instruction; NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) for ESA+ and the Opportunity Scholarship decides how this rule applies to you. We read its published rule and the pages below; each was checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- NCCCS Curriculum Procedures Reference Manual, Section 14: Career and College Promise (Fall 2025) [1]
- NCDPI: Career and College Promise (CCP) Program [2]
- NCSEAA: The Education Student Accounts (ESA+ Program) [3]
- NCSEAA: Parent Guide to Allowable Expenses, 2026-2027 [4]
- NCSEAA: Opportunity Scholarship FAQ [5]
Which credits count
What counts
- For CCP entry: an unweighted cumulative high school GPA of 2.8 on the home-school transcript, or college-ready scores on an approved assessment.
- For a family's own plan: college-level courses whose credit a college later posts via a college transcript.
What does not count
- Enrolment before 11th grade unless the student meets the gifted and college-ready route.
- A credit recommendation that no college has posted on its transcript.
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 North Carolina Community College System (State Board of Community Colleges); NC Department of Public Instruction; NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) for ESA+ and the Opportunity Scholarship.
College Algebra
Builds the maths a transfer pathway requires.
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
A history course a home-school transcript can show in 9th or 10th grade.
Self-paced online US History 1 course (HIST 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Intro to Biology 1
A science course for the high school transcript.
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 →
Introduction to Psychology
A social science many transfer pathways list.
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
Maths option for students headed to social science or business.
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 the home school registered and the records cleanCCP needs a high school transcript from the home school showing the courses, grades and GPA. Start it in 9th grade.
- Check the 9th and 10th grade routeIf your student may be identified as gifted and college-ready, ask the local community college about the freshman and sophomore College Transfer Pathway and what proof it needs.
- Build skills before 11th gradeUse 9th and 10th grade for strong English, maths and science courses, so the 2.8 GPA or the college-ready scores are within reach.
- Decide whether college-level courses belong nowSelf-paced courses with ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations can be part of the high school transcript. Any college credit appears only after a college posts it via a college transcript; ask the college in writing first.
- Apply to CCP for 11th gradeComplete the college's CCP application with the transcript and any test scores, and plan a 2.0 college GPA after the first two courses.
TESU and UoPeople are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit; Newlane is a third. North Carolina community colleges set their own transfer rules, and CCP courses come from the college itself. Ask in writing before relying on any outside credit.
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 |
| 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 |
CCP tuition is paid by the state for eligible students, so from 11th grade it is the cheapest route for courses the community college offers; books, fees and travel may still apply. Before 11th grade, families paying for courses themselves compare these options.
What UPI Study cannot do here
- UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited; it cannot enrol a student in CCP or issue a college transcript.
- UPI Study cannot make a 9th or 10th grader eligible for CCP; the college and the state rules decide.
- UPI Study cannot tell a family that a community college or university will post its courses; each college decides.
- UPI Study is not part of any North Carolina scholarship or account programme.
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 community college in writing what your student needs for CCP and whether it will consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit later, before you enrol in any course.
Career and College Promise for home-school students
Career and College Promise (CCP) is North Carolina's dual enrolment programme. It lets high school students, including those in registered home schools and private schools, take community college courses with tuition paid by the state. The rules are in the State Board of Community Colleges code at 1D SBCCC 400.11, under G.S. 115D-20, and the NC Community College System publishes the details in its procedures manual.
The College Transfer Pathway is the one most home-school families want. It leads toward the first year of a university degree through courses in English, maths and other general education subjects, plus ACA 122 College Transfer Success. For most students it opens in 11th grade.
Who qualifies, and when
A junior or senior qualifies for the College Transfer Pathway with an unweighted cumulative high school GPA of 2.8, or by showing college readiness on an approved assessment, or after completing required supplemental coursework. Once in, the student keeps eligibility by making progress toward high school graduation, keeping a 2.0 GPA in college coursework after two courses, and sending an updated transcript each term.
A freshman or sophomore can join only by a much narrower door: identified as gifted under a local AIG plan or by scoring in the 92nd to 99th percentile on an aptitude and an achievement test, college-ready in English, reading and maths, recommended by the principal or equivalent, approved by the college and with parent consent. For a home school, the parent usually fills the principal's role; ask the college how it handles that.
- 11th and 12th grade: 2.8 GPA or college-ready scores
- 9th and 10th grade: gifted plus college-ready plus approvals
- Everyone: 2.0 college GPA to stay in
What 9th and 10th graders can do instead
Most home-schooled freshmen and sophomores are not eligible yet, and that is the gap this page is about. Families use these two years in a few ways: strong high school courses that raise the GPA, preparation for the placement or readiness tests, and for some students, self-paced college-level courses that the family pays for. A college-level course on the home-school transcript can show readiness, but any college credit appears only when a college posts it.
If you try college-level courses early, choose ones that also make sense as high school courses: composition, algebra, history, biology. That way the work counts on the home-school transcript whatever any college later decides.
North Carolina homeschool programs and state money
Two NCSEAA programmes come up often. The Opportunity Scholarship is for registered private schools; NCSEAA's FAQ says full-time home school is not an option. ESA+ serves students with disabilities and does include full-time home schools, with awards of $9,000 or $17,000 for certain designated disabilities. Neither is part of CCP, and UPI Study is not part of either programme; UPI Study plans are paid by the family.
Questions people ask
Can homeschoolers do Career and College Promise?
Yes. NCDPI says eligible CCP students include home school and private school students. The home school documents eligibility with a high school transcript, and the student applies to the local community college like any CCP student.
What grade can you start Career and College Promise?
Most students start in 11th grade, with a 2.8 unweighted GPA or college-ready scores. Freshmen and sophomores can enter the College Transfer Pathway only if identified as gifted, college-ready, and approved by the principal or equivalent and the college.
Is Career and College Promise free?
Tuition for eligible students' CCP college classes is paid by the NC General Assembly. Books, fees and transport may still cost something depending on the college and local decisions, so ask the college for a list before the term.
What GPA do you need to stay in CCP?
A 2.0 GPA in college coursework after completing two courses, plus progress toward high school graduation and an updated transcript each term. A student who falls below 2.0 is subject to the college's academic progress policy.
Can my 9th grader take college courses outside CCP?
Yes, families can choose self-paced courses and pay for them directly. Credit appears only when a college posts it via a college transcript, so ask the college you expect your student to attend in writing before you rely on it.
Does the NC Opportunity Scholarship cover homeschool?
No. NCSEAA's FAQ says full-time home school is not an option; the scholarship applies only to tuition and fees at registered private schools. Students co-enrolled at a registered private school may have the award applied to that school's tuition.
Read next
- Career & College Promise for homeschoolers: who qualifies and whenRegistered North Carolina home-school students qualify for Career and College Promise like other high school students. Juniors and seniors need a 2.8...
- ESA+ for home schools: allowable expensesESA+ is North Carolina's education student account programme for students with disabilities, run by NCSEAA. The base award is $9,000, or $17,000 for...
- NC Opportunity Scholarship does not cover homeschool: your optionsThe North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship does not cover full-time home school. NCSEAA says it applies only to tuition and fees at registered...
The same topic in nearby states
Ready when you have it in writing
Build English, maths and science in 9th and 10th grade with courses that carry ACE or NCCRS credit recommendations, then move any credit via a college transcript.
Sources
- NCCCS Curriculum Procedures Reference Manual, Section 14: Career and College Promise (Fall 2025) (official)CCP is tuition-free for eligible students; College Transfer Pathway: junior or senior with unweighted cumulative GPA 2.8, or college readiness on an approved assessment; freshmen and sophomores must be identified as gifted (local AIG plan or 92nd-99th percentile), show college readiness, have principal and college approval and parent consent; keep a 2.0 college GPA after two courses; authority 1D SBCCC 400.11 and G.S. 115D-20; home school documents eligibility. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- NCDPI: Career and College Promise (CCP) Program (official)Eligible students include home school and private school students; graduates are not eligible; tuition for CCP college classes is paid by the NC General Assembly; 2.0 college GPA to remain eligible. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- NCSEAA: The Education Student Accounts (ESA+ Program) (official)ESA+ base award $9,000, or $17,000 for certain designated disabilities; full-time home-school students may apply the whole award to allowable expenses; 2026-27 offers were made on 21 Aug 2026 (read via NCSEAA search extract; the page returned 403). Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- NCSEAA: Parent Guide to Allowable Expenses, 2026-2027 (official)Allowable expense categories for 2026-27, including a core-subject academic requirement to renew and art and music limited to teaching and tutoring services (read via NCSEAA search extract). Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- NCSEAA: Opportunity Scholarship FAQ (official)Full-time home school is not an option for the Opportunity Scholarship; it applies only to tuition and fees at registered private schools; co-enrolled students' awards go to the private school's tuition and fees (read via NCSEAA search extract). 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.