Homeschool benefits: Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University charges dual credit students $99 per credit hour in 2026-27, about $297 for a three-credit class, with virtual textbooks included. Homeschooled high school students with a 2.5 GPA can apply, and the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) Dual Credit Scholarship covers one general education course in junior year and one in senior year.
Who qualifies
Is a high school student
Kentucky State University's dual credit program is open to public, private, and homeschooled high school students. Homeschool students usually apply on their own, so contact the Dual Credit Office for help.
Has a 2.5 GPA
Your student needs a minimum unweighted cumulative high school GPA of 2.5, which you document on the transcript you keep as the homeschool.
Meets course prerequisites
Some courses require ACT or KYOTE (Kentucky Online Testing) scores before your student can enroll.
Is admitted for dual credit
Your student completes the dual credit application and must be admitted before registering for classes.
What it is worth
Kentucky State University's 2026-27 dual credit tuition is capped at $99 per credit hour, the rate set by the Kentucky legislature, and includes virtual textbooks.
- One credit hour
- $99
- One class (3 credit hours)
- $297
- Two classes in a semester (6 hours)
- $594
- Virtual textbooks
- Included
- One general education course in junior year
- KHEAA scholarship
- One general education course in senior year
- KHEAA scholarship
If the university has not received your scholarship information by the billing date, it bills you anyway, so send the KHEAA paperwork early.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Talk to the Dual Credit Office
Book an advising appointment to choose courses and confirm prerequisites, including any ACT or KYOTE scores.
- Before the term
Apply and get admitted
Complete the dual credit application. Classes meet on the Frankfort campus or live online through Blackboard.
- November or April
Watch for the bill
Fall bills go out in November and spring bills in April, with any KHEAA scholarship applied if the university has your information.
- End of each semester
Pay before the next term
Payment is due at the end of the semester, and an unpaid balance puts a hold on transcripts and blocks next semester's enrollment.
What it pays for
Covered
- Virtual textbooks
Not covered
- Courses beyond the two KHEAA Dual Credit Scholarships
- Commuting to the Frankfort campus
A separate KHEAA Work Ready Scholarship covers up to two technical courses a year, eight in total; ask the Dual Credit Office whether a course qualifies.
Good to know
Virtual textbooks come with tuition
Courses with virtual textbooks need no textbook purchase; those come with the $99 per credit hour tuition.
Who to contact
The Dual Credit Office advises homeschool families on applying, course choice, scholarships, and billing holds.
Dual.Credit@kysu.edu 502-597-6013 Dual credit program
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Kentucky
You must notify the local district superintendent annually. Current KDE guidance says within the first two weeks of the school year, or within two weeks of public-school withdrawal, for a child of compulsory attendance age.
Kentucky sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents choose the curriculum for a noncertified homeschool. Certified private schools must teach in English, offer public-school subjects, and provide at least 1,062 hours over 170 days annually; KDE recommends those hours and days for other homeschools.
- Testing: Kentucky does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: Keep attendance records and scholarship reports showing completed courses and grades, available for inspection by pupil-personnel and KDE officials. Work-sample portfolios are recommended, not mandatory.
- Teachers: No state teacher certification requirement for parents teaching their own children in a noncertified homeschool.
Read the Kentucky homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Kentucky
Questions parents ask
- Does my student have to drive to Frankfort for KSU dual credit?
- Not always. Some classes meet on campus, and others let your student join the college class live online through Blackboard.
- How many courses will the KHEAA scholarship pay for?
- The Dual Credit Scholarship covers two general education courses in total: one in junior year and one in senior year. Your family pays $99 per credit hour for anything beyond that.
- What happens if we do not pay the bill on time?
- An unpaid balance places a financial hold on your student's transcripts, and you have to pay before enrolling in the next semester's courses.
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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