Homeschool benefits: Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts Bay Community College (MassBay) lets homeschooled students in grades 9-12 take college courses through Traditional Dual Enrollment at the standard Massachusetts rate of $256 per credit, about $768 for a 3-credit class. MassBay's free Commonwealth Dual Enrollment Partnership (CDEP) courses run only through five partner high schools, so homeschool students pay standard tuition.
Who qualifies
Lives in Massachusetts
Traditional Dual Enrollment is for Massachusetts residents.
Is in grades 9-12
Your student must currently be enrolled in grades 9 through 12, and homeschooling counts.
Has a 2.5 GPA
Your student needs at least a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA on a 4-point scale.
Places into college-level work
Your student must take placement tests, or waive them if eligible, and place into college-level math and English.
What it is worth
MassBay's 2026-2027 rate for Massachusetts residents is $256 per credit, $24 in tuition plus a $232 All College Fee, with extra per-credit fees for some subjects.
- 3-credit class
- $768
- 4-credit class
- $1,024
- 3-credit art class with $26 per-credit fee
- $846
- 4-credit biology or chemistry lab class
- $1,168
- Payment plan enrollment fee, per semester
- $32
Textbooks are not included, and taking 9 or more credits of on-campus classes in a semester triggers MassBay's immunization requirement.
From applying to keeping it
- Before the term
Submit the application and agreement
MassBay said the application for Spring 2027 and later terms would be posted in mid-September, so check the dual enrollment page for the deadline.
- After approval
Meet the coordinator and test
Meet with the Traditional Dual Enrollment Coordinator, then take or waive placement tests and review the scores.
- Before classes start
Register and pay
Choose classes whose prerequisites your student meets, register, pay tuition and fees in advance, and buy textbooks.
- End of semester
Keep a 2.0 GPA
Grades go on your student's official MassBay transcript, and your student must keep at least a 2.0 GPA at MassBay to continue.
What it pays for
Covered
- Credit-bearing MassBay courses
- On-campus, online, and hybrid sections
- Tutoring, library, and academic support
Not covered
- Free CDEP courses, offered only at partner high schools
- Textbooks and course materials
- Course and lab fees
Traditional dual enrollment students pay standard MassBay tuition and fees before each semester, with an interest-free payment plan available.
Good to know
Homeschoolers enroll through the paid Traditional route
MassBay's free CDEP classes for 2027 are offered in the spring at Bellingham, Framingham, Hopkinton, Keefe Regional Technical School, and Natick high schools, so a homeschool student enrolls through the paid Traditional route.
Who to contact
The Traditional Dual Enrollment team answers questions about homeschool applications, placement, and registration.
earlycollege@massbay.edu 781-239-3000 Dual enrollment page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Massachusetts
Obtain approval of your home education plan from the resident district before instruction begins or withdrawing a child of compulsory school age. Renewal and reporting follow the district’s homeschool policy.
Massachusetts sets these rules:
- Subjects: The approved plan must provide instruction in the studies required by law, equal in thoroughness, efficiency, and progress to the local public schools. Districts review content, materials, instructional time, methods, and evaluation.
- Testing: Assessment methods and reporting follow the locally approved plan. Massachusetts does not impose one statewide annual standardized-test requirement.
- Records: Keep the progress evidence and reports required by your approved district plan; the state does not prescribe a single homeschool portfolio format.
- Teachers: State educator-licensing requirements for public schools do not apply to home instruction.
Read the Massachusetts homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Massachusetts
Questions parents ask
- How many MassBay classes can my student take?
- MassBay sets no maximum and suggests deciding the load with a guidance counselor. As the homeschool parent, plan for 6 to 9 hours of outside work each week per 3-credit class.
- Will I see my student's grades?
- Only if your student shares them. Instructors communicate with the student, not the parent, under the federal privacy law known as FERPA.
- Will other colleges accept the credits?
- Many do, but policies vary, so check with the colleges your student is considering.
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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