Answer: Yes! There are several free promos going on with colleges and companies across the country right now! In this post, I’ll share with you every resource I have for earning college credit TODAY for no cost.
Harding University Bison Prep (1 class per semester)
“Bison Prep is designed for college-bound high school juniors and seniors and allows students to earn college credit at Harding while still in high school. Courses are available in the fall and spring semesters. Best of all, it’s FREE for one course each semester!” One course each semester is free (limit 4 semesters). Harding is a Christian university. Learn More
Grand Canyon University (1 class per person)
GCU is a 4-year private Christian university offering 1 free dual enrollment course to any 12th grader whose parent is in the Homeschooling for College Community. You verify your membership by simply saying you’re a member of the HS4CC community! It’s that easy. Enrollment is now. Start dates are given, courses run 7 weeks and are fully online. Email Sheila Jones homeschool@gcu.edu with the following: your name, your student’s name, your ALPHA group (Homeschooling for College Credit), the course you want to register for, and the start date from the choices given.
- American Government & Politics, 10/17/22, or 10/24/22
- US History Themes, 10/17/22 or 10/24/22
- Christian Worldview, 10/17/22, or 10/24/22
- General Psychology, 10/17/22, or 10/24/22
- Principles of Sociology, 10/17/22, or 10/24/22
- Fundamentals of Communication, 10/17/22, or 10/24/22
- English Composition I, 10/17/22, or 10/24/22
- English Composition II, 10/17/22, or 10/24/22
University of Pittsburgh via Outlier (1 class per person)
**not everyone will qualify. Please read eligibility and conditions
Outlier is offering a free 100% off tuition on 1 course if you qualify for their Frontline Worker scholarship. There are no fees, every cost is covered. If your teen is 13 or older and works a part-time job (restaurant, grocery store, childcare, healthcare, etc.) they may qualify. This scholarship is available for the first 1,000 eligible applicants who complete a simple questionnaire and short video submission. Winners must begin their course by November 22, 2022. (start dates range from October 18, 2022 – November 15, 2022) Apply here
- Intro to Financial Accounting
- College Writing I
- Computer Science I
- Intro to Statistics
- College Algebra
- Precalculus
- Calculus I
- Principles of Economics
- Intro to Psychology
- Intro to Business
- Intro to Astronomy
- Intro to Microeconomics
- Intro to Philosophy
- Intro to Sociology
- Intro to Macroeconomics
- College Writing II
Husson University (2 courses per person per semester)
Husson University’s Early College Access Program (ECAP) is offering students two courses per semester for a maximum of 21 credits over two years, 11th and 12th grades only. Full course catalog is available assuming the student meets prerequisites and there is space. Local students in Maine can attend in person, everyone else will attend online. ECAP students get last priority. Book costs are not included.
Only homeschoolers in the following states are eligible: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland, and New Jersey. Apply here
States offering Free Dual Enrollment
The following states offer FREE dual enrollment college classes to homeschoolers who are residents of that state. Eligibility guidelines apply.
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wyoming
CLEP Exams (college credit by exam)
CLEP exams are currently free and unlimited when you pass the free prep course offered through Modern States. The best strategy for accumulating many vouchers for many CLEP exams is to choose courses your high school student has already completed for high school credit but not yet for college credit. A Modern States prep course can usually be worked through in 1 week or less when the student has preexisting knowledge. Sign up now
- American Government
- American Literature
- Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
- Biology
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- College Algebra
- College Composition
- College Mathematics
- English Literature
- Financial Accounting
- French Language
- German Language
- History of the United States I
- History of the United States II
- Introduction to Educational Psychology
- Human Growth and Development
- Humanities
- Information Systems
- Introductory Business Law
- Introductory Psychology
- Introductory Sociology
- Natural Sciences
- Precalculus
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Principles of Management
- Principles of Marketing
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Social Sciences and History
- Spanish Language
- Western Civilization I
- Western Civilization II
Very Low Cost Courses with ACE Evaluation
The companies/organizations in this category sell courses “for college credit” that have been evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE credit is not as transferable as credit earned directly through a college, but can be very transferable when used with the intention of transferring to one of the partner colleges. ACE is a third party credit evaluator that evaluates all types of learning that happens outside of a college. This kind of college credit is guaranteed to transfer into partner colleges (varies by provider) but transfers poorly outside of partnerships.
Using ACE credit requires creating an account with another third party, Credly to “hold” your teen’s credit until they’re ready to use it. HS4CC List of ACE Partners
Saylor Academy Courses These courses are always free but carry a $5 proctoring fee. There is no cost to take these courses except for the proctor fee. Books and transcript fees are all waived.
Very Low Cost Courses with NCCRS Evaluation
The National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) is a third party credit evaluator that evaluates learning that occurs outside of a college. Only when a provider has a partnership with a college should this college credit be considered transferable. Unlike ACE/Credly, NCCRS college credit is held directly with the provider. HS4CC List of NCCRS Partners
OnlineDegree.com (age 18+ only) (all courses are free but require a $9 proctor fee)
Law Shelf (all courses are free but require a $35 proctor fee)
