Homeschool benefits: Allegany College of Maryland

Allegany College of Maryland's Early College lets students still in high school or homeschool take college courses at half the tuition rate for their residency, $70 per credit instead of $140 for Allegany County residents in fall 2026. Per-credit fees and the semester registration fee still apply.

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

Who qualifies

1. Attends high school or homeschool

   Allegany defines an Early College applicant as a student who wants to take college courses while attending high school or homeschool.

2. Applies for admission

   Every student submits an application for admission, and placement uses GPA, SAT, ACT, PARCC, or other scores plus the ACCUPLACER assessment.

3. Under 16 gets approval

   Applicants under 16 must complete the college's approval forms and meet its admissions criteria.

4. Residency sets the rate

   Students under 18 are classified by a parent's or guardian's residency, and Early College students pay half of that tuition rate.

What it is worth

Allegany College charges $140 per credit in-county and $297 out-of-county for fall 2026; Early College students pay half the tuition rate, plus fees of $26 per credit and $40 per semester.

Tuition per credit, Allegany County resident

$70

3-credit course tuition, county resident

$210

3-credit course with per-credit fees, county resident

$288

Tuition per credit, other Maryland county

$148.50

Registration fee each semester

$40

First-time students also pay a $20 placement test fee, and books are not part of tuition.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Check placement

   Gather your student's GPA and any SAT, ACT, or other scores, and plan for the ACCUPLACER placement assessment.

2. When you apply

   Submit the admission application

   Apply online and complete the approval forms if your student is under 16.

3. Each semester

   Register and pay

   Pay half tuition plus the student, technology, and sustainability fees and the $40 registration fee.

4. Through graduation

   Keep the rate

   The Early College tuition waiver stays valid through the spring semester of your student's graduation year.

What it pays for

Covered

• Half of tuition for college courses
• Courses through the spring of the graduation year

Not covered

• Student, technology, and sustainability fees
• The $40 semester registration fee
• The $20 placement test fee
• Books and course materials

Good to know

• Homeschooled students can join Early College

  The Allegany College catalog defines an Early College applicant as a student taking college courses while attending high school or homeschool.

Who to contact

The Early College office and its College and Career Coaches help students apply, place, and register.

301-784-5000 Early College page

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Maryland

You must submit the prescribed consent form to the local superintendent at least 15 days before starting. District-supervised families verify continuation before each school year and report status changes. A qualifying nonpublic supervisor reports continuing enrollment and status changes to the district.

Maryland sets these rules:

• Subjects: Provide regular, thorough instruction of sufficient duration in English, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and PE. A qualifying nonpublic-supervised program must provide regular, thorough instruction in the usual public-school studies.
• Testing: State standardized testing is voluntary. District-supervised programs have portfolio reviews at semester ends, with no more than three reviews per school year.
• Records: For district supervision, keep instructional materials and work samples demonstrating required instruction; college report cards or transcripts may substitute for those courses. Qualifying nonpublic supervision follows COMAR’s separate requirements.
• Teachers: No state teaching credential required for the parent providing home instruction.

Read the Maryland homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Maryland

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