English Composition 1
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →PennsylvaniaHomeschool
Dual enrollment is not free in Pennsylvania: cheaper ways to start
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
For most Pennsylvania homeschoolers, dual enrollment costs tuition. Discounted rates exist, such as Pennsylvania Highlands' $73 per credit for students at its partner school districts, but eligibility varies. Compare the per-credit cost with online options, and ask the colleges your teen may attend which kind of credit they review.
What dual enrollment usually costs
Pennsylvania community colleges set their own rates for high school students. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, for example, lists ACE dual enrollment tuition of $73 per credit, subject to change, for current high school students at its ACE partner school districts. Its Early College option is for juniors and seniors, who pay tuition based on their county of residence and buy their own materials.
Homeschooled students may fall outside a partner district programme, so ask each college which rate a homeschooler pays before you plan.
Ways to bring the cost down
Families who want college-level work without high tuition usually mix options.
- Ask the local community college whether homeschoolers qualify for its dual enrollment rate.
- Ask your school district about academic courses under Act 55 of 2022.
- Use free or low-cost college-level material for subjects the target college will not give credit for.
- Use an online provider for courses the target college confirms it will review.
- Take fewer, well-chosen courses rather than many.
Comparing the options
Each option has a different cost model and a different route to a transcript. Prices checked 15 Nov 2026.
| Option | Price | Credit route |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Highlands ACE | $73 per credit (partner districts) | College's own transcript |
| Sophia Learning | $99 a month | ACE recommendation; a college reviews |
| StraighterLine | $99 a month plus $79 per course | ACE recommendation; a college reviews |
| UPI Study homeschool plan | $250 once | ACE or NCCRS recommendation; via a college transcript if a college reviews |
Which route fits your teen
If your teen is set on one university, ask it first. Some universities prefer credit on a college's own transcript; others review ACE or NCCRS recommendations; some treat any early college work only as evidence of readiness. The answer decides whether a dual enrollment course or an online course is the better buy.
If your teen has no fixed target, a college-level course still strengthens the homeschool transcript as high school credit, which the supervisor assigns under the home education law.
A sample two-year plan
Here is one way a family might combine options across the last two years of high school. It assumes the target college has said in writing which kind of credit it reviews; change it once you have that answer.
In grade 11, take English Composition 1 and College Algebra as college-level high school courses, and ask the community college about its rate for a lab science in the spring. In grade 12, take US History and Introduction to Psychology online if the target college reviews ACE or NCCRS credit, or at the community college if it prefers credit on a college transcript. Record each one in the portfolio for the evaluator.
- Grade 11: two college-level core courses.
- Grade 11 spring: one lab science where the college prefers it.
- Grade 12: two electives by the route the target college confirmed.
Where UPI Study fits
The UPI Study homeschool lifetime plan is $250 once for every course, including English Composition, College Algebra, Biology and US History. We are not a college and not accredited. Our courses become college credit only if a college reviews them, so ask the colleges on your list in writing first.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Before your teen enrols, ask each college on the list, in writing, whether it reviews ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit and how it wants that credit sent.
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
Do homeschoolers get the same dual enrollment rate as public school students in Pennsylvania?
Not always. Some discounted rates are tied to partner school districts. Ask each community college which rate a homeschooled student pays, and get it in writing. If the answer is no, ask whether there is a separate homeschool or early college route and what it costs per credit.
Is dual enrollment credit better than online course credit?
Credit on a college's own transcript is reviewed in the usual way. Credit with an ACE or NCCRS recommendation depends on the receiving college. Ask the target college which it prefers.
How many college courses should a Pennsylvania homeschooler take?
Enough to show readiness and fill the high school courses you planned. More only helps if the target college says it will review the credit, so ask before adding courses.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Intro to Biology 1
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
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 →Start when you have it in writing
Ask the colleges on your list in writing first, then choose the courses.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College: Dual Enrollment (official)ACE dual enrollment tuition $73 per credit, subject to change, for students at partner school districts; Early College students pay tuition by county of residence. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Pennsylvania Department of Education: Home Education and Private Tutoring (official)Act 169 of 1988 added section 1327.1; Act 196 of 2014 added paths to a diploma with all rights and privileges; supervisor-issued homeschool diplomas are recognised by the state; evaluation by a qualified evaluator is the required proof; affidavits notarised or unsworn declarations; Act 55 of 2022 on academic courses and CTE. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.