Homeschool benefits: North Arkansas College

At UA Northark (North Arkansas College), the Arkansas Access to Acceleration (A2A) Scholarship pays $65 per credit hour and the college waives the rest of tuition and fees for approved concurrent courses, so most eligible students pay no tuition at all, about $543 saved on a three-credit course at Arkansas rates. Homeschooled Arkansas students in grades 9-12 qualify, unless they receive Education Freedom Account funds.

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

Who qualifies

1. Homeschooled in grades 9-12

   Your student must have finished 8th grade and be enrolled in a public, private, or home school as of the fall semester, and must be in grades 9-12 for A2A.

2. Lives in Arkansas

   Your student must meet Arkansas residency requirements for A2A.

3. Does not receive EFA funds

   UA Northark lists homeschooled students receiving Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds as not eligible for A2A.

4. Has approved courses and scores

   Your school's designee signs the Concurrent Enrollment Request Form approving the courses and hours, and your student provides ACT or Accuplacer scores that meet each course's minimum.

What it is worth

UA Northark charges Arkansas residents $140 per credit hour plus $41 in mandatory fees, $124 plus fees in Boone County; A2A pays $65 of that and the college waives the rest.

One course (3 hours)

$543

One course, Boone County (3 hours)

$495

A2A share of one course

$195

Full semester (15 hours)

$2,715

A2A yearly maximum

$2,000

Textbooks and course access codes are billed to the school district for district students, so ask the Admissions office who is billed for those materials when your student is homeschooled.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Choose concurrent courses

   Search the class schedule with the Concurrent filter; concurrent sections have a C in the section number.

2. Apply once

   Submit the application and documents

   Apply as a high school student and send ACT or Accuplacer scores, a transcript, and proof of two MMR immunizations to admissions@northark.edu or 1515 Pioneer Drive, Harrison.

3. Each semester

   File the request form

   Complete the Concurrent Enrollment Request Form signed by your school's designee, listing the courses and hours.

4. After registering

   A2A and waiver apply

   UA Northark applies A2A at $65 per credit hour, then waives the remaining tuition and fees.

5. Every semester after

   Keep a 2.50 GPA

   Keep at least a 2.50 cumulative college GPA and attempt each course no more than twice to keep A2A.

What it pays for

Covered

• Tuition on approved concurrent courses
• Mandatory student fees
• Up to 15 credit hours a semester

Not covered

• Textbooks and course access codes
• Hours past 15 a semester or 30 a year
• Remedial or developmental courses
• A third attempt at the same course

Who pays first

1. UA Northark tuition and fee waiver

A2A pays first at $65 per credit hour, and UA Northark waives whatever tuition and fees remain on eligible concurrent courses.

Good to know

• Tuition and fees are covered up to set limits

  Most eligible students in approved concurrent courses get no tuition bill. A2A and the UA Northark waiver cover tuition and fees for up to 15 hours a semester and 30 hours a year.

Who to contact

The Admissions office processes concurrent applications and documents and answers questions about A2A eligibility.

admissions@northark.edu 870-391-3505 Concurrent Students and Parents

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Arkansas

You must file the annual notice of intent by August 15. If withdrawing a child from public school after August 15, file at least five school days before the withdrawal, unless an exception applies.

Arkansas sets these rules:

• Subjects: Arkansas does not require specific subjects or a particular curriculum.
• Testing: Arkansas does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
• Records: Arkansas does not require homeschool records.
• Teachers: Arkansas does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.

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

• The Education Freedom Account pays 90% of the state's per-student foundation funding for students in private school or home school, under each year's application rules.

Read the Arkansas homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Arkansas

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