Homeschool benefits and savings in Mesa

The Mesa College Promise pays whatever Arizona resident tuition and registration fees remain after other aid for two years at Mesa Community College (MCC), about $1,179 for a 12-credit semester in 2026-27, plus a $250 stipend each semester. City of Mesa residents who graduated from a home school in or next to Mesa after January 1, 2021 qualify with a 2.0 GPA and financial need shown on the FAFSA; Fall 2026 applications are closed. Other options include recreation and camp discounts, museum and arts admission, and library educator cards and resources.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Benefits in Mesa

1. Mesa College Promise
2. Mesa Parks and Recreation scholarship
3. Arizona Museum of Natural History homeschool discount
4. Maricopa Promise Scholarship
5. Phoenix Public Library homeschool educator account
6. Maricopa Community Colleges Prop 308 homeschool-equivalent tuition classification

Mesa College Promise

Who qualifies

1. Lives in the City of Mesa

   Your student must be a Mesa resident, but may have been homeschooled or attended a charter, private, or neighboring-city high school.

2. Graduated after January 1, 2021

   Graduation must come from a public, private, charter, or home school in or adjacent to Mesa, with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.0 or higher.

3. Shows need on the FAFSA

   Every Promise student files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and may be asked for documents confirming need. Citizenship is not required to be considered.

4. Starts at MCC full time

   Recent graduates enroll the semester after graduation, for the first time at MCC, in 12 or more credits in an eligible degree or certificate program.

What it is worth

MCC charges Arizona residents $97 per credit hour in 2026-27 plus a $15 registration fee each semester, and the Promise adds a $250 stipend each semester.

Tuition and fee, 12-credit semester

$1,179

Tuition and fee, 15-credit semester

$1,470

Stipend each semester

$250

Stipends over two years

$1,000

Two years at 12 credits, tuition and fees

$4,716

The Promise is last-dollar aid, so it pays only what remains after Pell Grants and scholarships, and the yearly amount depends on available funding.

From applying to keeping it

1. Senior year

   Apply to MCC and file the FAFSA

   Complete MCC admissions and the FAFSA; a Mesa College Promise advisor or the Financial Aid Office can help with the FAFSA.

2. When the cycle opens

   Submit the Promise application

   Apply through the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation Scholarship Manager. Applications for Fall 2026 are closed.

3. Before classes

   Meet your advisor and register

   Connect with a Mesa College Promise advisor, then register for at least 12 credits and finish all enrollment tasks in the Student Center.

4. Each semester

   Use the stipend

   Receive $250 a semester toward books, transportation, or other educational costs.

5. For two years

   Stay on track

   Keep working with your assigned advisor. If your student cannot meet the enrollment minimum or finish in two years, ask the advisor before it happens.

What it pays for

Covered

• Arizona resident tuition
• Registration fees
• $250 stipend each semester
• An assigned academic advisor

Not covered

• Tuition above the Arizona resident rate
• Students who already attended MCC after high school

Who pays first

1. Federal aid such as the Pell Grant
2. Other scholarships
3. Mesa College Promise

It is last-dollar aid: federal aid and other scholarships apply first, and the Promise covers the remaining Arizona resident tuition and fees.

The City of Mesa and Mesa businesses and philanthropists fund the Promise through the Maricopa County Community College District Foundation, and award amounts change each year with tuition and available funds.

Who to contact

Mesa College Promise advisors answer eligibility questions and help with the FAFSA, scholarship applications, and enrollment.

mesacollegepromise@mesacc.edu Mesa College Promise page

Mesa Parks and Recreation scholarship

Who qualifies

1. Lives in Mesa

   Submit proof of residency within the City of Mesa with your application.

2. Receives government assistance

   Include a document showing eligibility for Unemployment Insurance, WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), or AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid program.

3. Youth or adaptive participant

   The 50% discount is for youth and adaptive recreation participants.

4. Approved before registering

   MRS applies only to programs you register for after the approval email, and there are no refunds for earlier registrations.

What it is worth

The City of Mesa's Discounts and Scholarships page sets the MRS discount at 50% and lists the activities it does not cover.

Eligible recreation activity

50% off

Activity costing $15 or less

None

General Enrichment or Special Interest classes

None

Private lessons and FlowRider

None

Gym drop-in or memberships

None

Youth sports registration fees can also be covered through Every Kid Sports, a national group the city partners with, which sets its own rules and picks its own recipients.

From applying to registering

1. Before you register

   Apply for MRS

   Submit the application with proof of Mesa residency and your Unemployment Insurance, WIC, or AHCCCS verification.

2. After review

   Wait for the approval email

   Approval comes by email from parksresreg@mesaaz.gov.

3. After approval

   Register for activities

   Sign up for eligible programs; the 50% discount applies only to registrations made after approval.

What it pays for

Covered

• City of Mesa recreational activities over $15
• Youth participants
• Adaptive recreation participants

Not covered

• Instructor-led General Enrichment and Special Interest classes
• Private lessons and FlowRider
• Gym drop-in access and memberships
• Lifeguard certification courses
• Activities registered before approval

Who to contact

The Parks and Recreation registration team reviews MRS applications and answers discount and scholarship questions.

parksresreg@mesaaz.gov 480-644-7529 Discounts and Scholarships page

Arizona Museum of Natural History homeschool discount

Who qualifies

1. Has a notarized affidavit

   Arizona requires a notarized affidavit of intent to homeschool filed with the county school superintendent. Bring a copy and show it to Guest Experience staff.

2. Child is 6 to 16

   Children under 6 or over 16 pay regular admission. Adults serving as the educator or a chaperone get the $6 rate too.

3. Comes as a group of 10

   Field trips need at least 10 paying people, so a small family may need to join with other homeschool families.

4. Visits Tuesday to Friday

   Field trips run Tuesday through Friday during the standard school year. The rate does not apply to daycare, day camp, preschool, or programs outside the school year.

What the discount saves

The museum lists $6 per person for self-guided field trips and these general admission prices on its visit page.

Homeschool field trip, per person

$6

Adult (18+) general admission

$16

Student with ID

$13

Child (3-12) general admission

$9

Child (0-2)

Free

Smallest field trip group of 10

$60

Families paying with an Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account pay general admission and ask for an itemized receipt, and the museum does not guarantee the program will reimburse it.

How to book the visit

1. Before you book

   Gather a group

   Line up at least 10 paying people, children ages 6-16 and their adults, for a Tuesday to Friday visit.

2. Two weeks ahead

   Send the request

   Fill in every field of the AZMNH Self Guided Field Trip Request form on the museum's field trip page.

3. After the request

   Read the confirmation

   The museum emails maps, payment options, and chaperone requirements. Tell the museum if your date or group size changes a lot; you can reschedule twice after booking.

4. On the day

   Show your affidavit

   Bring a copy of your notarized affidavit of intent to homeschool for Guest Experience staff at 53 N Macdonald, Mesa.

What it includes

Included

• Self-guided museum admission
• Children ages 6-16 with an affidavit
• Adult educators and chaperones

Not included

• Children under 6 or over 16
• Saturday, Sunday, and Monday visits
• Groups smaller than 10 paying people
• Daycare, day camp, and preschool groups

Who to contact about the discount

The museum's field trip team processes requests and sends confirmation details, including payment options and chaperone rules.

Field trip request

Maricopa Promise Scholarship

Who qualifies

1. Graduated from home high school

   Your student must have graduated from a public, private, home, or online high school, or earned a state-accredited GED, before enrolling.

2. Enrolls within two years

   Your student must enroll at a Maricopa Community College within two years of high school graduation. Adults 25 or older without a prior degree also qualify.

3. Gets resident tuition

   Your student must qualify for Arizona/Maricopa resident tuition, be admitted to a Maricopa Community College, and enroll in an eligible degree or certificate program with at least 6 credit hours.

4. Is Pell Grant eligible

   Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be eligible for a Pell Grant, and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.

What it is worth

Maricopa Community Colleges charges resident students $97 per credit hour in 2026-27 plus a $15 registration fee each semester; these are the costs the scholarship helps with.

Minimum semester (6 credits)

$597

Full-time semester (12 credits)

$1,179

Semester at 15 credits

$1,470

Four semesters at 12 credits

$4,716

The 2026 announcement does not state the award amount, so email promise@domail.maricopa.edu to ask how much the scholarship pays each semester before you count on it.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Get an MEID and file the FAFSA

   Apply for admission to a Maricopa Community College to get a Maricopa student ID (MEID), and file the FAFSA so Pell eligibility can be checked.

2. As early as possible

   Submit the application

   Start the Maricopa Promise application with your student's MEID. Awards are first come, first served and funding is limited.

3. After applying

   Watch the student email

   All further messages about the application go to your student's Maricopa student email.

4. Each semester

   Enroll in 6 or more credits

   Stay in an eligible degree or certificate program with at least 6 credit hours and meet SAP to keep the scholarship.

5. Up to four semesters

   Use it back to back

   Support lasts up to four consecutive semesters, not counting summer, at any Maricopa Community College.

What it pays for

Covered

• Scholarship funds for up to four semesters
• Additional support services
• Use at any Maricopa Community College

Not covered

• Summer semesters
• Students without Pell Grant eligibility
• Students past two years from graduation who are under 25

Funding is limited and awards are first come, first served, so apply as soon as possible.

Who to contact

The Maricopa Promise team answers questions about the requirements and helps with the application.

promise@domail.maricopa.edu Maricopa Promise announcement

Phoenix Public Library homeschool educator account

Who qualifies

1. Educates in Maricopa County

   The library offers Teacher Accounts to teachers and educators in Maricopa County, including homeschool educators who supply the required affidavit.

2. Brings a notarized affidavit

   A copy of a notarized Affidavit of Intent to Homeschool substitutes for current faculty identification.

3. Keeps a personal account

   The Teacher Account is additional to your personal Full Access Library Account.

4. Shows identity and address

   Present valid photo identification when obtaining a card. If it lacks your current address, bring accepted address evidence such as a recent utility bill or postmarked mail.

What the account gives you

The library's current Library Cards page lists the Teacher Account's checkout, hold, loan-period, and annual renewal terms.

Books and media

50 items at once

Physical holds

15 at once

Teacher Account loans

4 weeks

Account renewal

In person each school year

How to get the account

1. Before your visit

   Prepare your documents

   Bring photo identification, address evidence if needed, and your notarized homeschool affidavit.

2. At a library location

   Request a Teacher Account

   Staff can issue the educator account alongside your personal account and explain its borrowing privileges.

3. When borrowing

   Use it for teaching materials

   Select books or media for curriculum and educational group use, within the 50-item limit.

4. Each school year

   Renew in person

   Teacher Accounts expire annually on September 6. Renew at a library location and keep your personal account in good standing.

What it includes

Included

• Teaching books
• Media for curriculum
• Physical material holds

Not included

• Interlibrary loans
• Specialty and promotional items
• Act One Culture Passes

Who to contact about the account

Library staff answer questions about Teacher Accounts, documentation, and borrowing privileges.

602-262-4636 Library card instructions

Maricopa Community Colleges Prop 308 homeschool-equivalent tuition classification

Who qualifies

1. Homeschooled in Arizona two years

   Your student attended a public or private high school or a homeschool equivalent under A.R.S. 15-802 while physically present in Arizona for at least two years.

2. Graduated in Arizona

   Your student graduated from a high school or homeschool equivalent while physically present in Arizona, or earned an Arizona high school equivalency (GED) diploma.

3. Has an eligible status

   Citizens and noncitizens, including Dreamers, qualify, but many visa types such as F1, J1, and H4 are not eligible. Talk to Admissions and Records if your student holds a visa.

4. Has graduated already

   Noncitizen students in Dual Enrollment or an early college program do not qualify while still in high school, but they do after graduating.

What in-state tuition saves

Maricopa Community Colleges charges in-state students $97 per credit hour in 2026-27 and out-of-state students living in Arizona $372.

Per credit hour

$275

One 3-credit class

$825

Full-time semester (12 credits)

$3,300

Semester at 15 credits

$4,125

Two years at 12 credits a semester

$13,200

Each semester also carries a $15 registration fee and any course fees, which are the same under either classification.

How to get in-state tuition

1. Before graduation

   Keep homeschool records

   Keep a transcript that shows at least two years of homeschool attendance in Arizona and your student's graduation.

2. At admission

   Apply to a Maricopa college

   New students are classified out-of-state until they show they qualify, so apply and ask for Prop 308 classification right away.

3. Before the semester

   Send proof

   Give the college's Admissions, Records, and Registration office valid identification and the transcript; an unofficial copy can set the rate, but an official copy must follow.

4. After classification

   Pay in-state tuition

   Your student is billed $97 per credit hour and can also receive state and local grants, scholarships, and tuition waivers.

What it includes

Included

• In-state tuition rate
• State-funded grants and scholarships
• Tuition waiver and exemption programs

Not included

• The $15 registration fee
• Course fees
• Students on ineligible visas

Prop 308 is a tuition classification, not a payment: it lowers the rate your student is charged and opens state and local aid.

Who to contact about tuition classification

Each college's Admissions, Records, and Registration office decides tuition classification; Mesa Community College's office is at 1833 W. Southern Ave., Mesa.

480-461-7600 Prop 308 page

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Arizona

Within 30 days of starting, file an affidavit of intent and a certified birth certificate or other authorized ID with the county superintendent. The ID rule exempts homeless pupils. Within 30 days, notify the superintendent if you stop or file a new affidavit if you resume.

Arizona sets these rules:

• Subjects: Reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science required.
• Testing: Arizona does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
• Records: Arizona does not prescribe routine academic portfolios or attendance reports; required identity documentation is filed with the county superintendent.
• Teachers: Arizona does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.

Arizona also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.

• The Empowerment Scholarship Account pays about 90% of the state funding your child's district or charter school would have received, for curriculum, tutoring, and other approved expenses. Using it is a separate path from homeschooling under state law.
• TheHomeschoolingCompany is an approved vendor for it.

Read the Arizona homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Arizona

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