Top Scholarships for Homeschoolers in 2021
Lisa Freedland is a Scholarships360 writer with personal experience in psychological research and content writing. She has written content for an online fact-checking organization and has conducted research at the University of Southern California as well as the University of California, Irvine. Lisa will be graduating from the University of Southern California in Fall 2021 with a degree in Psychology.Despite attending school in an unconventional way, homeschoolers still have to go through the same college application process as their public school counterparts and may be looking for ways to offset the costs of a college experience. If that’s you, we have the top scholarships for homeschoolers available to help you fulfill your college dreams.
- Scholarships for homeschoolers
- University-Specific Scholarships & Grants
- Frequently-Asked-Questions
- Resources for homeschoolers
- Summary of scholarships
- Upcoming scholarships
Keep on reading to learn about the homeschooler scholarships that will help you get out of the house and on the way to university!
Top scholarships for homeschoolers
HSLDA Quarterly Contests
- Eligibility: Homeschooled students between 7 and 19 years of age
- Amount: Up to $500
- Deadline: May 1 (Poetry Contest); August 1 (Photo Contest); November 1 (Essay Contest); February 1 (Art Contest)
Sonlight Curriculum Foundation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Applicants must have purchased and used at least five full Sonlight Curriculum programs and intend to begin college the fall after graduation
- Amount: Between $1,000 and $5,000
- Deadline: November, 1, 2021
Herb Kohl Student Excellence Scholarship
- Eligibility: Homeschooled Wisconsin students who plan on enrolling in a university or vocational school
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: November 16, 2021
GHEA HOPE Scholarship
- Eligibility: Georgia residents who have completed a Home Study program. Students can either qualify by having an ACT/SAT score at or above the national 75th percentile or completing 30 semester hours of college coursework with a 3.0 or higher GPA
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Last day of a student’s school term
Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award
- Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are juniors in an Iowa high school or homeschooled program in the Spring of 2022, with an expected graduation in Spring 2023
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: March 15, 2022
University-specific scholarships & grants
Nyack College Homeschool Grant
- Eligibility: Freshman and transfer Nyack College students who are homeschool graduates
- Amount: Up to $2,000/yr.
- Deadline: Ongoing
THSC’s Patrick Henry College Scholarship
- Eligibility: Texas homeschool graduates applying to Patrick Henry College (PHC)
- Amount: Between $1,000 and $3,000
- Deadline: TBA; reopens every year
GCU Evan C. Gary Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Homeschooled GCU students pursuing engineering, science, or pre-medicine. Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: TBA
Homeschoolers at UW Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students enrolled in or accepted to the University of Washington who received a homeschool high school diploma
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: TBA
Bryan College Homeschool Grant
- Eligibility: Bryan College students who were homeschooled for at least the last two years of high school
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: Automatically applied upon acceptance
Central Christian College Scholarship
- Eligibility: Homeschool graduates attending the Central Christian College of Kansas
- Amount: 50% of tuition costs
- Deadline: Applied upon acceptance
Resources for homeschoolers
CollegeBoard College Planning for Homeschoolers
Overview of applying to college as a homeschooler, and includes a handy FAQ section as well.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is an excellent place to gather information on applying to college as a homeschooled student. Read their overview, including about letters of recommendation, transcripts, and standardized test scores.
Frequently asked questions about scholarships for homeschoolers
Can homeschooled students quality for need-based financial aid?
Absolutely! Homeschoolers can and should complete financial aid applications like the FAFSA and the CSS Profile (as always, check with the colleges you are applying to for more details about their financial aid application requirements).
Need-based financial aid can include everything from Pell Grants to federal student loans to work study so you definitely don’t want to miss out!
Can you get into college if you’re homeschooled?
Certainly! Most colleges don’t even require a high school diploma from homeschooled students – typically a detailed portfolio of one’s coursework and standardized tests will suffice. Application processes differ by college, however, so make sure to reach out to specific colleges with questions that come up when applying.
Is the number of homeschoolers increasing?
In a normal year, around 3% of American school-aged children are homeschooled. However, with COVID-19 restrictions causing many children to attend school virtually, some experts expect an increase in the number of homeschooled students soon, due to a possible newfound liking for working from home.
Summary of scholarships
- HSLDA Quarterly Contests
- Sonlight Curriculum Foundation Scholarship
- Herb Kohl Student Excellence Scholarship
- GHEA HOPE Scholarship
- Herbert Hoover Uncommon Student Award
Upcoming scholarships for homeschooled students
NCHE Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students who are full-time North Carolina homeschool seniors and are members of NCHE (North Carolinians for Home Education)
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: TBA
Emmett-Comer Scholarship
- Eligibility: Homeschooled students in Washington State who are members of the Washington Homeschool Organization and plan on enrolling in college
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: TBA
