Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
The Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant is open to home school students, according to the state Comptroller. It is a lottery-funded grant for high school students who take college courses at an eligible college. TSAC sets the grant amount and the number of funded courses each year, so check the current limits with TSAC and the college before you plan.
Tennessee's Comptroller (OREA, April 2018) states that home school students are eligible to enroll in dual enrollment courses and to receive the state's lottery-funded Dual Enrollment Grant; the grant was created in Tennessee Code Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9, by Public Chapter 481 of 2005, for high school students taking college courses for college credit at eligible postsecondary institutions.
The rule asks for Set by TSAC each year: the number of funded courses and the grant per course; the current figures were not readable at TSAC on 15 Nov 2026. The legal source is Tennessee Code Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9.
| Item | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who can get the grant | Home school students are eligible for dual enrollment and the Dual Enrollment Grant | [1] |
| What it pays for | College courses for college credit at an eligible postsecondary institution, while in high school | [2] |
| Basic eligibility | Tennessee resident for a year, admitted as a dual enrollment student, applies for the grant | [2] |
| Amount and course count | Set by TSAC; the 2018 figures are out of date, so check this year's | [1] |
| Home school types | Independent (district registration) or church-related umbrella school | [1] |
| Diploma and records | Independent: the parent; umbrella: the umbrella school | [1] |
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC), which runs the Dual Enrollment Grant; the local school district or the church-related umbrella school for home school registration decides how this rule applies to you. We read its published rule and the pages below; each was checked on 15 Nov 2026.
Each course below is ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended for college credit. Whether it counts here is the decision of the college and of Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC), which runs the Dual Enrollment Grant; the local school district or the church-related umbrella school for home school registration.
A common first college course; useful before or alongside dual enrollment.
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Maths at college level for the high school transcript.
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
Social studies at college level.
Self-paced online US History 1 course (HIST 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
A popular elective.
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 →
Useful for many majors.
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 →
A second writing course after Composition 1.
Self-paced online English Composition 2 course (ENG 102). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Thomas Edison State University (TESU), University of the People and Newlane University are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit. Tennessee colleges decide for themselves, so ask in writing.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
| 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 | Pay monthly while courses are in progress | 15 Nov 2026 |
| StraighterLine | $99 a month plus $79 per course | Pay monthly plus a fee for each course | 15 Nov 2026 |
Prices checked 15 Nov 2026. Dual enrollment at a Tennessee college may cost little or nothing for the courses the grant funds; ask TSAC and the college for this year's figures.
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.
Before you enrol, ask TSAC and the college about the grant's current limits, and ask each college on your teen's list in writing whether it reviews ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit.
The Dual Enrollment Grant is a Tennessee lottery-funded grant for high school students who also take college courses for college credit at an eligible college. It was created in 2005 in Tennessee Code Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 9. To qualify, a student must be a Tennessee resident for at least a year, be admitted to the college as a dual enrollment student, and apply.
Tennessee's Comptroller states plainly that home school students are eligible, both for dual enrollment courses and for the grant. Thousands of home school students have used it. The grant amount and the number of courses it funds are set by TSAC and have changed over the years, so the figures in older guides are not safe to use.
Dual enrollment usually starts late in high school, and colleges set their own rules for which grades they admit as dual enrollment students. That leaves the early high school years, when many homeschoolers are ready for harder work but cannot yet use the grant.
This is a good time to build strong foundations: writing, algebra and a first look at a subject your teen enjoys. College-level courses taken at home can go on the homeschool transcript as high school credit. They become college credit only via a college transcript, when a college reviews and posts them, so ask the colleges your teen is considering in writing first.
The grant funds a set number of courses. Families who want more college-level work can pay the college directly, or use self-paced options at home. Compare the price per course and ask how the credit would reach the college your teen plans to attend.
Keep each course, grade and syllabus in your records. Under an independent home school, the parent keeps the records and issues the diploma. Under a church-related umbrella school, the umbrella school does both, so ask it how it shows college courses on its transcript.
UPI Study offers college-level courses such as English Composition 1 and 2, College Algebra, US History 1, Introduction to Psychology and Principles of Statistics. They are ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended. We are not a college and not accredited, so any college credit comes only via a college transcript, and only counts if the college agrees. Partner colleges such as Thomas Edison State University, University of the People and Newlane University consider such credit; Tennessee colleges decide for themselves. The homeschool lifetime plan is $250 once. The Dual Enrollment Grant does not pay for our courses.
Yes. Tennessee's Comptroller states that home school students are eligible to take dual enrollment courses and to receive the lottery-funded Dual Enrollment Grant. Apply through TSAC and check the current grade, course and grant limits with TSAC and the college.
TSAC sets the number of funded courses and the grant per course, and both have changed over the years. Check the current figures with TSAC or the college's financial aid office before you plan your teen's schedule.
The grant pays for dual enrollment courses at an eligible postsecondary institution, and many colleges offer some online. It does not pay for providers that are not colleges, such as UPI Study.
For an independent home school, the parent keeps the records and issues the diploma. For a church-related umbrella school, the umbrella school keeps the records and issues the diploma. Dual enrollment courses also appear on the college's own transcript.
Many families use grades 9 and 10 for foundation courses, sometimes at college level, recorded on the homeschool transcript. Any college credit comes only via a college transcript, so ask the colleges your teen is considering in writing first.
Ask TSAC, your umbrella school if you use one, and the colleges on your list in writing first.