Homeschool Dual Enrollment in Nebraska
Yes. Nebraska homeschoolers can take college courses, and the Access College Early (ACE) Scholarship pays tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying students, but its rule routes applications through a high school official.
How college courses work for homeschoolers
The Nebraska Department of Education treats college courses a homeschooler takes as part of the exempt school's program, not as dual enrollment with another school. Each college sets its own admission rules. No publicly funded Nebraska college may refuse a student, or treat the student differently on residency or scholarship eligibility, because the student was educated in an exempt school, when test results show the student is qualified.
Access College Early Scholarship
The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education runs ACE for high school students taking college courses at participating Nebraska colleges. Awards go first come, first served while funding lasts, and for 2026-27 the commission expects no limit on the number of courses per student.
The commission's rule, Title 281, Chapter 6 of the Nebraska Administrative Code, defines an eligible student as one attending a Nebraska high school who is expected to meet the state's residency rules on graduating. The student gives the application to an official designated by the high school, who checks eligibility and forwards it to the commission within 15 days. The rule does not describe how an exempt school student applies.
Before your child can enroll
Family benefit
Your child or family is eligible for Supplemental Security Income, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, free or reduced-price lunch, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the federal nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
Extreme hardship
Or your family recently had an event such as a fire, illness, accident, or job loss that caused significant financial difficulty.
Career program and income
Or your child is enrolled in a career program of study and your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Graded course, lawful status
Your child takes the course for a grade, not audit or credit/no credit, and is a U.S. citizen or lawfully documented noncitizen.
Enrolling in a college course
First step
Ask the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education how an exempt school student submits the ACE application, then apply through its online system before the term deadline.
Course and funding limits
Students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status are not eligible, and a student can no longer apply after finishing high school.
What it costs
The scholarship does not cover matriculation fees, course-specific fees, books, supplies, or background checks.
When to apply
ACE deadlines are December 15 for fall classes, February 15 for winter, May 15 for spring, and July 15 for summer.
A homeschool plan alongside college courses
We teach the subjects your teen takes at home and generate the homeschool transcript from that coursework.
$149/month per child after the trial.