Homeschool benefits and savings in Yavapai County
YC Promise reimburses eligible tuition for up to 61 credits once your student earns an associate degree at Yavapai College, worth up to $7,076 at the 2026-27 Tier 1 rate of $116 a credit. Graduating seniors from a Yavapai County home school program qualify if they live in the county and opt in by August 1.
Who qualifies
Graduates from a county home school
YC Promise is open to graduating seniors from a Yavapai County high school, home school program, or online high school who receive a diploma or GED.
Lives in Yavapai County
Your student's primary residence must be in the county. They must also be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and qualify for in-state tuition.
Files the FAFSA every year
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required each year, and your student must keep financial aid eligibility.
Keeps a 2.0 GPA
Your student needs a 2.0 cumulative GPA, an orientation before the first fall term, a yearly advisor meeting, and no unpaid balance with the college.
What it is worth
Yavapai College charges in-state students $116 a credit for Tier 1 courses such as English, math, and history, and $134 for Tier 2 courses, in 2026-27.
- One class (3 credits)
- $348
- One term (15 credits)
- $1,740
- One year (30 credits)
- $3,480
- Promise limit (61 credits)
- $7,076
- 61 credits at the Tier 2 rate
- $8,174
You pay these costs up front each term, and the reimbursement is reduced by any other gift aid your student receives.
From opting in to reimbursement
- By August 1
Opt in
Log in to the myYC Experience portal, find the notice saying your student may be eligible, select Resolve, then select Yes.
- Before the first fall term
Attend orientation
Your student must complete orientation before starting the first fall semester.
- Each year
Stay on track
File the FAFSA, meet with an advisor, keep a 2.0 GPA, and pay every balance owed to Yavapai College each term.
- Within seven semesters
Finish the degree
Complete the associate degree within seven semesters, including summers. Nursing and Radiologic Technology students have 11 semesters.
- 4 to 6 weeks after the final term
Receive the reimbursement
Payment is processed after the degree is conferred and final grades post. It is reported on Form 1098-T.
What it pays for
Covered
- Eligible tuition
- Up to 61 credits
- Most associate degrees
Not covered
- Books
- Course and program fees
- Transportation, food, and housing
- Transfer credits and credits taken before joining
- Repeated, failed, and developmental courses
- The Aerospace Science degree
Who pays first
- Other gift aid
- YC Promise reimbursement
YC Promise is last-dollar aid: other gift aid is applied to tuition first, and the Promise reimburses only the eligible tuition left after it.
Who to contact
The Promise Team, led by director Meghan Paquette and manager Tanner Campbell, answers eligibility and reimbursement questions; the college's main line is listed below.
yc.promise@yc.edu 928-717-7777
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
Questions parents ask
- Do we pay tuition ourselves at first with YC Promise?
- Yes. You pay each term, and the college repays eligible tuition only after your student's degree is conferred. Plan for the full cost until then.
- Does YC Promise cover books or lab fees?
- No. Books, course and program fees, transportation, food, and housing are not reimbursed, only tuition.
- Will the reimbursement affect our taxes?
- It can. Yavapai College reports the payment on Form 1098-T, and you may need to amend an earlier return if you claimed an education credit for the same tuition. The college does not give tax advice, so ask a tax professional.
- Do dual enrollment credits from high school count?
- No. Credits taken before your student joined the program are not reimbursed, and neither are transfer credits from other colleges.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
College classes can cover part of high school. We teach the subjects your child needs alongside them, starting at the right level in each subject. We are an approved Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) vendor, so your ClassWallet balance can pay for it.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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