Checked 15 Nov 2026 by the team. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
In Virginia, tuition-free dual enrollment usually runs through contracts between community colleges and high schools. A homeschool student who takes college classes on campus or online is normally an independent dual enrollment student and pays tuition and fees, which at NOVA is $232.05 per credit for Virginia residents in 2026-27.
Under Va. Code 22.1-254.1, a parent who provides home instruction sends the division superintendent a notice by August 15 each year with a list of subjects, and by August 1 after the year gives evidence of progress, which can be a report card or transcript from an institution of higher education.
The rule asks for No set credit count; one year of evidence of progress at a time. The legal source is Va. Code 22.1-254.1.
| Point | What applies in Virginia | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who may homeschool | A parent with a high school diploma, a qualified teacher, a parent using a curriculum or distance program, or one who shows ability | [1] |
| Notice | To the division superintendent by August 15 each year, with a list of subjects | [1] |
| Evidence of progress | By August 1 after the year: a test score at or above the fourth stanine, or an evaluation | [1] |
| College records as evidence | A report card or transcript from an institution of higher education or college distance learning program | [1] |
| Contract dual enrollment | Classes at the student's high school in the school day; no tuition | [2] |
| Independent dual enrollment | On campus or online; the student pays tuition and fees | [2] |
| Cost at NOVA | $232.05 per credit for Virginia residents, 2026-27 | [3] |
Virginia Department of Education and the local division superintendent (home instruction); Virginia's community colleges (dual enrollment) 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 Virginia Department of Education and the local division superintendent (home instruction); Virginia's community colleges (dual enrollment).
The most common first college course for teens; general education almost everywhere.
Self-paced online English Composition 1 course (ENG 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
The second writing course in many degree plans.
Self-paced online English Composition 2 course (ENG 102). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
A core maths course for most degrees.
Self-paced online College Algebra course (Math 111). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
For teens heading toward science or engineering.
Self-paced online Pre-Calculus course (MATH 115). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
A history or social science general education course.
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 social science course that fits many plans.
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 →TESU, UoPeople and Newlane are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit; start with their own transfer pages, then any other college you already attend.
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 |
| Northern Virginia Community College (in-state) | $232.05 per credit, tuition and fees (2026-27) | Independent dual enrollment course on campus or online; a 3-credit course is about $696 | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Study.com | $95 a month (two courses at a time) | Monthly; transcripts and exam fees are separate | 24 Oct 2026 |
| Sophia Learning | $99 a month (or $299 per 4 months) | Self-paced general education; credit via its partner colleges | 15 Nov 2026 |
Prices checked on each provider's own page on the date shown. A community college course goes straight onto that college's transcript; UPI Study credit needs a partner college step. Compare the total for the courses your teen will actually take.
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.
Ask each college your teen may attend to confirm in writing how it treats each course before your teen enrols.
Virginia's community colleges run two kinds of dual enrollment. Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) describes them plainly. Contract dual enrollment means NOVA classes taught at the student's high school during the regular school day, and students do not pay tuition for those courses. Independent dual enrollment means NOVA courses on campus or online for full college credit, and students are responsible for tuition and fees.
A homeschool student is not sitting in a public high school classroom, so the usual route is independent dual enrollment. That is why many Virginia homeschool families find they pay full tuition while public school friends take similar courses at no cost. Rules differ between colleges and school divisions, so ask your local community college how it handles home-instructed students.
Va. Code 22.1-254.1 lets a parent provide home instruction if the parent holds a high school diploma, is a teacher with qualifications the Board sets, provides a program of study or curriculum (which can be a correspondence course or distance learning program), or shows ability to provide an adequate education.
Each year the parent notifies the division superintendent of the intent to homeschool no later than August 15, with a description of the curriculum limited to a list of subjects. By August 1 after the school year, the parent gives evidence of progress: either a composite score at or above the fourth stanine on a nationally normed achievement test, or an evaluation the superintendent accepts. The law lists an evaluation letter from a licensed teacher or a person with a master's degree, and a report card or transcript from an institution of higher education, college distance learning program or home-education correspondence school.
For Fall 2026 to Summer 2027, NOVA charges Virginia residents $232.05 per credit. That is $202.05 tuition, a $4.00 student activities fee, a $3.50 auxiliary services fee and the $22.50 NOVA All Access fee, which covers textbooks and can be opted out of. A typical 3-credit course is therefore about $696, and four courses in a year come to almost $2,800.
Other Virginia community colleges follow the same state tuition rate with their own fees, so check your local college's page. Out-of-state students at NOVA pay $480.40 per credit.
Some families keep community college for lab sciences or courses their teen wants in a classroom, and use self-paced courses for general education. UPI Study's homeschool lifetime plan is $250 once per family and includes every course, such as English Composition I and II, College Algebra, Precalculus, US History I and Introduction to Psychology.
Credit counts only via a college transcript. TESU, UoPeople and Newlane are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit, and each college decides for itself. UPI Study is not accredited, and its courses are not dual enrollment courses. Ask the colleges your teen is considering, in writing, before choosing a route.
Yes, usually as independent dual enrollment, taking community college courses on campus or online. NOVA says independent dual enrollment students pay tuition and fees. Ask your local community college about its steps for home-instructed students, such as placement and age rules.
Tuition-free dual enrollment generally comes from contracts between a college and a school division for classes taught at the high school. NOVA says those contract students do not pay tuition, while independent dual enrollment students on campus or online pay tuition and fees.
At NOVA, Virginia residents pay $232.05 per credit for 2026-27, including fees and the textbook programme. A 3-credit course is about $696. Other colleges have similar tuition with different fees, so check your local college.
Under Va. Code 22.1-254.1, the parent meets one of four qualification options, sends a notice of intent with a list of subjects by August 15, and gives evidence of progress by August 1 after each school year.
The law lists a report card or transcript from an institution of higher education or a college distance learning program as one form of evaluation. The division superintendent decides whether the evidence shows adequate progress.
No. UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. Its courses are ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended, and they count only via a college transcript, if a college agrees. Ask the target college in writing first.
Every course, self-paced, for the life of the plan.