Homeschool benefits and savings in San Luis Obispo County
The Cuesta Promise pays the $46-per-unit enrollment fee and listed campus fees for two consecutive years at Cuesta College, $690 a semester at 15 units. A San Luis Obispo County resident who graduates from a home school between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 qualifies by applying and filing the FAFSA or CADAA by August 1, 2027, then starting by fall 2027.
Who qualifies
Graduates July 2026 to June 2027
A home school graduation counts, as do a GED, a HiSET, or passing the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). Your student must mark the home school graduation on the Cuesta admissions application.
Lives in San Luis Obispo County
Your student must be a county resident and be classified as a California resident or an Assembly Bill (AB) 540 student for fee purposes.
Starts right after graduating
Your student must begin using the Promise in summer or fall 2027. A spring term taken after graduation but before summer or fall 2027 needs separate financial aid, and your student must start using the Promise by fall 2027.
Files the FAFSA or CADAA
Complete the 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by August 1, 2027. To cover summer 2027, the 2026-27 form is due by June 7, 2027.
What it is worth
Cuesta charges an enrollment fee of $46 per unit, and the Promise pays it for California residents and AB 540 students whether they enroll full or part time.
- One class (3 units)
- $138
- Part time (6 units)
- $276
- Full time (12 units)
- $552
- 15 units
- $690
- One year at 15 units a semester
- $1,380
- Two years at 15 units a semester
- $2,760
The Promise also pays the $19 health fee, the $10 student ID card fee, the $10 student center fee, the $2 representation fee, and course materials fees listed in Class Finder, which adds to these totals.
From applying to year two
- October 1, 2026 to August 1, 2027
Apply to Cuesta
Submit the fall 2027 admissions application and note the home school graduation. To start in summer 2027, apply by June 1, 2027.
- By August 1, 2027
File for financial aid
Complete the 2027-28 FAFSA or CADAA and list Cuesta College. The optional general scholarship application for other awards closes March 2, 2027.
- If your home school is not listed
Ask admissions
Email admit@cuesta.edu to confirm your home school qualifies. You may need to file a Cuesta Promise Request for Consideration, and every other step must still be done by August 1.
- May 1 to August 1, 2027
Register for classes
Cuesta begins awarding the Promise in May by email and mailed letter. Check the award and your fee balance in the myCuesta student portal.
- After the first year
Qualify for year two
Earn a 2.0 GPA, complete more than half of attempted units with a D or better, enroll in the next consecutive year, and renew the FAFSA or CADAA before August 1.
What it pays for
Covered
- Up to two summer terms
Not covered
- Books
- Items an instructor's syllabus requires
- A spring term taken before summer or fall 2027
- A second year after taking a year off
The Promise pays these fees in the summer, fall, and spring terms, and your student only needs to register each term for the fees to be paid.
Good to know
Part-time students qualify too
To keep the second year, your student still has to complete more than half of the units attempted.
Who to contact
The Financial Aid Office answers questions about Promise awards, the FAFSA, and the CADAA; Cuesta admissions at admit@cuesta.edu confirms whether a home school is recognized.
finaid@cuesta.edu 805-546-3143 Cuesta Promise page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in California
For the home-based private-school pathway, file the Private School Affidavit during the October 1–15 annual filing period. New schools may use the online filing system during its separate August 1–June 30 opening window. Other legal pathways have their own rules.
California sets these rules:
- Subjects: The private-school pathway must provide instruction in English in the branches of study required for public schools; the parent chooses the materials and course sequence.
- Testing: California does not impose a statewide standardized-testing requirement on private-school students.
- Records: Private schools must keep the records required by California law, including attendance and faculty information.
- Teachers: Private-school instructors must be capable of teaching; California does not issue a separate homeschool-parent credential.
Read the California homeschooling guide See statewide programs in California
Questions parents ask
- Does the Promise pay for summer classes?
- Yes, for up to two summers: the one right after graduation and the one between the first and second year. The first summer requires the 2026-27 FAFSA or CADAA by June 7, 2027.
- Our student finishes our home school in December. Can the Promise pay for spring 2027?
- No.
- What if we miss the August 1 deadline?
- Your student will not be eligible. Cuesta does not accept a Request for Consideration for applications or requirements completed after the deadline.
- Can my student take a year off between the two years?
- No. The second fee-free year is only for students who return for the next consecutive year.
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.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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