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
Questions to ask a college before sending NCCRS or ACE credit recommendations
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Before sending ACE or NCCRS credit to a college, ask in writing whether it reviews those recommendations for incoming first-year students, which courses it will count and as what, how many credits it allows, and how the credit must arrive. The college decides, so get its answer before your teen takes the course.
Why ask before, not after
ACE and NCCRS recommend credit; they do not grant it. Each college decides whether to review the recommendation, how many credits to allow and what each course counts as. Some review it for transfer students but not for first-year students; some take it only as general electives; some do not review it at all.
Asking first saves money and time. A Pennsylvania homeschool family can still use any college-level course as high school credit, which the supervisor assigns, but college credit depends entirely on the college's answer.
The questions to send
Copy these into one email to the admissions or transfer office. Ask for a written reply.
- Do you review ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit for first-year applicants?
- Would you review this course, named with its recommendation, and what would it count as?
- Is there a limit on credits earned before high school graduation?
- Must the credit arrive via a college transcript, and from what kind of college?
- Does it affect my teen's status as a first-year applicant or for scholarships?
- When should the transcript arrive: with the application or after admission?
Reading the reply
Replies usually fall into three kinds. Plan from the one you receive.
| Reply | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| We review it | Credit possible, course by course | Take only the named courses |
| Only from a college transcript | A college must post it first | Ask a college that reviews ACE or NCCRS |
| We do not review it | No college credit there | Use the course as high school credit only |
Partner colleges
Thomas Edison State University, University of the People and Newlane University are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Each publishes its own transfer pages; read them and ask for a written evaluation. A partner college reviewing the credit is not the same as your teen's chosen university counting it, so ask both if they differ.
A short sample email
Keep the email to a few lines. Admissions offices answer clear, specific questions faster than long stories, and a short email is easier to forward to the registrar.
Subject: ACE and NCCRS credit question for a fall applicant. Body: My teen is a Pennsylvania homeschool student applying for first-year entry next fall. Before enrolling, we would like to know whether you review NCCRS-recommended credit for English Composition 1 and College Algebra, what each would count as, and whether credit must arrive via a college transcript. Is there a limit on credits earned in high school? Thank you, the supervisor.
Keep the paper trail
Save every reply in the homeschool portfolio. Admissions staff change and policies are updated, so a dated email naming the exact course is the best record. If a later reply differs, you can point to the earlier one and ask which applies. Penn State and other Pennsylvania universities each set their own policy, so ask each one separately.
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 ACE and NCCRS grant college credit?
No. They review courses and recommend credit. Each college decides whether to grant credit for a recommended course, so the college's written answer is what counts. A recommendation shows what an evaluation team found the course to be worth; it does not bind any college.
Who should I email at a college about ACE or NCCRS credit?
Start with undergraduate admissions, and ask them to pass the question to the transfer credit or registrar's office if needed. Keep the reply in your records. Name the course, its recommendation and your teen's intended start term in the first lines of the email so it reaches the right person quickly.
Can college credit change my teen's first-year status?
At some colleges, too many credits before graduation can change how an applicant is classified. Ask each college in writing whether credits earned in high school affect first-year status or scholarships.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
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 →
US History 1
Self-paced online US History 1 course (HIST 101). NCCRS recommends 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 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.