With recent reports indicating that more than two million students in the United States are educated at home each year and the number is steadily increasing as the years go by, it is no surprise that many organizations and universities have established scholarships for home-schooled students. Although the majority of scholarship programs do not exclude those who have been home-schooled, homeschoolers often face difficulties obtaining certain funding options due to their lack of traditional curricula, grade point average, and school activities. Luckily, the following are 25 national and local scholarships that have been specifically designed to provide home-schooled children with the same financial advantages for college preparedness as publicly schooled students.
1. Al Clements Memorial Scholarship Award
Deadline: April 1st
In honor of a home-schooling supporter and activist who served as a long-time board member for the Texas Home School Coalition, the Al Clements Memorial Scholarship Award is offered through the Apostolate of Roman Catholic Homeschooling (ARCH) to graduates who have completed at least the last two years of high school in a homeschooling environment. As a strictly merit-based program, applicants must include a copy of SAT or ACT scores, list of community service activities, and a personal 500-word essay on career plans.
Contact
Al Clements Memorial Scholarship Award
P.O. Box 66602
Houston, TX 77266
information@arch-homeschool.org
2. Apologia National Scholarship for Christian Service
Deadline: October 5th
Funded through the non-profit Apologia Educational Ministries Mission, the Apologia National Scholarship for Christian Service is granted for $2,000 to home-educated students across the United States who are interested in joining the one-year Christian gap year program at Impact360 to receive training in Christian service for 18 hours of college credit. With selection mostly based on leadership potential and academic excellence, preference is given to students who have been educated on the Apologia curriculum.
Contact
Apologia National Scholarship for Christian Service
5565 Georgia Highway 354
Pine Mountain, GA 31822
(706) 407-4287
admissions@impact360.net
3. Craig Dickinson Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
For academically talented students, the Craig Dickinson Memorial Scholarship is awarded through the Home Education Recognition Organization (HERO) for $1,000 to graduating seniors who were home educated for at least the last two years, have excelled in their chosen educational path, and are enrolling in an accredited U.S. institution in the fall. Recipients will be chosen based on references, an autobiography, home-school transcripts, and selected test scores if available.
Contact
Craig Dickinson Memorial Scholarship
820 North Fig Tree Lane
Plantation, FL 33317
(954) 888-1734
donielley@aol.com
4. Cypress Homeschool Association Scholarship
Deadline: May 15th
Annually, the Cypress Homeschool Association (CHA) presents one scholarship for up to $2,000 to a graduating senior in Texas who has been home-educated for at least the past three years and is pursuing post-secondary professional goals by attending any two or four-year institution within the United States in the fall term. Eligible candidates must be performing well academically, demonstrate strong moral character, be an active member of CHA for one full year, and provide documentation of their home-school education.
Contact
Cypress Homeschool Association Scholarship
12320 Barker Cypress Rd. Suite 600
Cypress, TX 77429
(281) 259-0200
secretary@cypresshomeschool.org
5. Emmett Comer College Scholarship Fund
Deadline: February 1st
Sponsored by the Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) in loving member of one of the state’s most dedicated homeschool leaders, the Emmett Comer College Scholarship Fund provides $1,000 annually to home-schooled student members who will be graduating in the upcoming year and continuing their post-secondary education in Washington. Along with the short application, candidates must submit a brief essay on the benefits of homeschooling and a parent-made homeschool transcript.
Contact
Emmett Comer College Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 66960
Seattle, WA 98166
(425) 251-0439
WHOOffice@WashHomeschool.org
Scholarship Link
7. Evan C. Gary Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: March 7th
In honor of the lifetime contributions of a locally home-schooled student with a keen interest in the sciences who lost his battle with an aggressive form of leukemia, the Arizona Families for Home Education (AFHE) has created the Evan C. Gary Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 to home-schooled students pursuing a degree in engineering, science, or pre-medicine. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a Christian worldview, be entering their freshman or sophomore years at an Arizona university, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.
Contact
Evan C. Gary Memorial Scholarship
P.O. Box 2035
Chandler, AZ 85244
(602) 235-2673
scholarships@afhe.org
8. FEAST Scholarship for Homeschooling Families
Deadline: February 21st
As a non-profit organization comprised of homeschooling families, the Family Educators Alliance of South Texas (FEAST) awards an annual Scholarship for Homeschooling Families to provide up to $3,000 to families who meet specific income eligibility guidelines demonstrating a financial need for assistance in affording higher education. Eligible families must live in Bexar, Kendall, Guadalupe, Wilson, Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Medina, or Blanco County.
Contact
FEAST Scholarship for Homeschooling Families
25 Burwood Lane
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 342-4674
staff@homeschoolfeast.com
9. Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship Program
Deadline: November 7th
Through the Wisconsin Parents Association, the Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship Program awards $1,000 for home-schooled graduates in Wisconsin who are pursuing post-secondary education at any public or private institution in the United States full-time. Qualified students will be evaluated based on their leadership potential, citizenship, homeschool and/or community involvement, academic achievement, financial need, and promise for success in college.
Contact
Herb Kohl Excellence Scholarship Program
P.O. Box 2502
Madison, WI 53701
(608) 283-3131
Elaine.strom@dpi.wi.gov
10. Homeschool Advocacy Project UW Scholarship
Deadline: March 31st
With the mission of encouraging homeschool graduates to examine their educational experiences and improve their ability to positively represent homeschooling to people in the college community, the University of Washington has created the Homeschool Advocacy Project Scholarship. To qualify for the $1,000 award, candidates must have earned a homeschool high school diploma, be accepted for full-time enrollment, write a three-page response essay, and agree to become involved in the project.
Contact
Homeschool Advocacy Project UW Scholarship
1400 NE Campus Parkway
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543-4694
hapuw@uw.edu
11. HOPE Scholarship Program for Home-Schooled Students
Deadline: May 1st
As an extension of the statewide program available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement, the HOPE Scholarship Program for Home-Schooled Students covers up to $3,000 in tuition expenses each year with a $150 book allowance per semester. Qualified homeschoolers must be admitted to one of Georgia’s public or private universities and earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in their freshman year.
Contact
HOPE Scholarship Program for Home-Schooled Students
258 Sandy Lake Circle
Fayetteville, GA 30214
(770) 461-3657
info@ghea.org
12. Janice M. Hedin College Scholarship for Homeschoolers
Deadline: February 1st
In honor of her many years of devotion to ensuring that home-schooled students can achieve their dreams in higher education, the Janice M. Hedin College Scholarship for Homeschoolers is offered by the Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) for $1,000 to home-educated students residing in Washington State who intend to go to college. Eligible applicants must be members, be graduating in the current year, and submit a homeschool academic record.
Contact
Janice M. Hedin College Scholarship for Homeschoolers
P.O. Box 66960
Seattle, WA 98166
(425) 251-0439
WHOOffice@WashHomeschool.org
13. KCI Homeschool Scholarship Essay Contest
Deadline: February 28th
Designed to support the creativity and diversity of home-schooled students by helping them achieve their post-secondary educational goals, the Kalani Consulting Inc. (KCI) hosts the Homeschool Scholarship Essay Contest specifically for homeschoolers. In order to win up to $1,000, entrants must be planning to attend college in the upcoming fall, be current members of the Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers, and submit a well-written 1,000 to 1,500-word essay on an assigned topic.
Contact
KCI Homeschool Scholarship Essay Contest
202 Church St. SE Suite 313A
Leesburg, VA 20175
(703) 596-1020
scholarship@kciconsulting.com
14. Kimball Memorial Homeschool Scholarship
Deadline: June 20th
Annually, the Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station offers the Kimball Memorial Homeschool Scholarship for $300 to home-schooled graduates who scored highest in the writing category of the SAT or ACT standardized tests without the requirement of writing an essay. Qualified applicants must have been home-schooled for at least three years in high school, be actively involved in community service, have been accepted into a two or four-year college, and submit three to five letters of recommendation.
Contact
Kimball Memorial Homeschool Scholarship
22409 Pacific Way
Ocean Park, WA 98640
KlipsanBeachLSS@aol.com
15. Laura Smither Scholarship for Home-Schooled Graduates
Deadline: January 16th
For qualified homeschool graduates from Harris, Brazoria, Montgomery, Ft. Bend, Victoria, Liberty, San Jacinton, Wharton, Washington, Walker, Polk, Matagorda, Jefferson, Hardin, Grimes, Austin, Brazos, or Galveston counties, the Southeast Texas Home School Association provides the Laura Smither Scholarship annually. Eligible candidates be currently pursuing a degree leading to broadcast radio, have a minimum college GPA of 3.25 or higher, and be full-time students at an accredited four-year U.S. university.
Contact
Laura Smither Scholarship for Home-Schooled Graduates
10592 Fuqua Avenue Suite 503
Houston, TX 77089
(281) 756-9792
sethsahomeschool@yahoo.com
16. Lee-Jackson Foundation of Charlottesville Scholarship
Deadline: February 7th
For any junior or senior in a Virginia private homeschool, the Lee-Jackson Foundation for Charlottesville Scholarship will grant $1,000 to those who compose an outstanding, original, analytical essay on any positive or negative aspect of the career of General Robert E. Lee and/or General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Applicants must be Virginia residents, plan to attend an accredited four-year U.S. institution full-time, and demonstrate a natural ability for success in college.
Contact
Lee-Jackson Foundation of Charlottesville Scholarship
P.O. Box 8121
Charlottesville, VA 22906
(434) 977-1861
leejacksonfoundation@yahoo.com
17. Mason Lighthouse Annual Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
Sponsored by the Home Education Recognition Organization (HERO), the Mason Lighthouse Annual Scholarship is granted as a one-time award of $1,000 to an outstanding homeschooler in the United states who has demonstrated significant service to his/her homeschool, church, and/or civic community. Eligible graduating seniors must have been home-educated for the last four years of high school, be beginning a post-secondary education program, and write an autobiography on positive contributions to community service projects.
Contact
Mason Lighthouse Annual Scholarship
820 North Fig Tree Lane
Plantation, FL 33317
(954) 888-1734
donielley@aol.com
18. Morgan Gray Memorial Scholarship Fund
Deadline: March 3rd
Administered through the Foundation for the Carolinas (FFTC) in partnership with the Rowan County Homeschool Association, the Morgan Gray Memorial Scholarship Fund provides up to $1,000 in financial support annually to home-schooled students in Rowan County of North Carolina who are planning to further their education at an accredited U.S. institution. As a merit-based program, selection will be based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal values, leadership potential, and personal references.
Contact
Morgan Gray Memorial Scholarship Fund
220 North Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 973-4500
scholars@fftc.org
19. North Carolinians for Home Education Scholarships
Deadline: December 1st
Each year, the North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE) delivers multiple scholarships for up to $2,000 apiece to outstanding graduating homeschool seniors in North Carolina who will be pursuing their post-secondary education at an approved U.S. institution. Along with the application, scholars must submit a homeschool transcript, at least one standardized test score report, two letters of recommendation, a current resume of extra-curricular involvement, and a short personal essay on homeschooling experiences.
Contact
North Carolinians for Home Education Scholarships
P.O. Box 30243
Raleigh, NC 27622
(919) 790-1100
scholarships@nche.com
20. Nyack Homeschool Scholars Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
At the Rockland campus of Nyack College in New York, the Nyack Homeschool Scholars Grant is provided for up to 20 incoming freshmen and transfer students annually for up to $2,000 based on the number of years they were home-schooled. In order to qualify for the funding for a maximum of eight semesters, students must be enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program, demonstrate academic achievement, and submit documentation of homeschool attendance.
Contact
Nyack Homeschool Scholars Grant
1 South Blvd.
Nyack, NY 10960
(845) 358-1710
finserv@nyack.edu
21. Patrick Henry College Scholarship for Homeschoolers
Deadline: Varies
Sponsored by the Home School Foundation of the HSLDA, the Patrick Henry College Scholarship for Homeschoolers is designed to provide $1,000 to $2,000 to incoming freshmen who were home-schooled for at least two years of their high school years. With selection based on academic excellence and exemplary leadership potential, candidates must be enrolled on-campus full-time at Patrick Henry College, have a record of community service, and demonstrate financial need.
Contact
Patrick Henry College Scholarship for Homeschoolers
P.O. Box 1152
Purcellville, VA 20134
(540) 338-8688
admissions@phc.edu
Scholarship Link
22. Rock County Home School Scholarships
Deadline: April 1st
Established by the Homeschool America Inc. Foundation, the Rock County Home School Scholarships are granted annually for up to $1,500 to outstanding home-schooled graduates who have completed at least one year of homeschooling and are currently enrolled or admitted to the University of Wisconsin at Rock County. Applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores, verification of admissions, a current transcript, two letters of recommendation, a 200-word personal essay, and a portfolio showing representative work.
Contact
Rock County Home School Scholarships
2909 Kellogg Avenue
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 758-6626
Jennifer.johns@uwc.edu
23. Sonlight Curriculum Ltd. Scholarship Program
Deadline: December 4th
As a leading organization that provides the best Christian home school curriculum materials and services, the Sonlight Curriculum Ltd. hosts an annual scholarship program that provides twelve awards ranging in value from $1,000 to $5,000 to homeschoolers who are entering their first year of college. Recipients will be chosen based on creativity, spiritual mindedness, leadership potential, academic performance, extra-curricular interests, and passion for lifelong learning.
Contact
Sonlight Curriculum Ltd. Scholarship Program
8042 South Grant Way
Littleton, CO 80122
(303) 730-6292
scholarship@sonlight.com
24. Vivian Byar Community Service Scholarship
Deadline: December 1st
In honor of a beloved woman who served the home schooling community for more than a decade as a full-time volunteer for the Indiana Foundation for Home Schooling (IFHS) in her late adulthood, the Vivian Byar Community Service Scholarship is granted for $1,000 to home-schooled students in Indiana who demonstrate significant participation in community service. In addition to the scholarship funding, recipients will also receive the opportunity to participate in the foundation’s graduation ceremony.
Contact
Vivian Byar Community Service Scholarship
P.O. Box 17385
Indianapolis, IN 46217
(317) 308-6411
info@indianahomeschooling.org
25. William Jessup University Homeschool Scholarship
Deadline: February 1st
With the goal of encouraging homeschoolers to become part of the Christ-centered campus community, William Jessup University has created the Homeschool Scholarship for $5,000 to first-time first-year students who have completed all four years of high school through a traditional homeschooling program. Qualified candidates must have scored at least a 1000 on the SAT or 21 on the ACT, maintain a university GPA of 3.0 or higher, and live on campus for at least the first two years full-time.
Contact
William Jessup University Homeschool Scholarship
333 Sunset Blvd.
Rocklin, CA 95765
(916) 577-2222
admissions@jessup.edu
If you are a home-schooled student making the transition into a higher education role, it is likely that you are begin faced with the same challenges that impact traditional high school graduates, including rising tuition and college-related expenses that may exceed your family’s budget. Along with these 25 great scholarships for home-schooled students, it is highly recommended that you also contact your college’s financial aid office to find more school-specific scholarship opportunities available for homeschoolers and select the funding options that meet your unique learning needs.
