Homeschool benefits: Glen Oaks Community College
Through the Michigan Community College Guarantee, Glen Oaks Community College covers in-district tuition and mandatory fees for up to three academic years, about $4,440 a year at 12 contact hours a semester. Homeschool graduates from 2023 or later qualify if they file the FAFSA and enroll full time within 15 months of graduating.
Who qualifies
Graduated in 2023 or later
Glen Oaks counts graduation from a public, private, or homeschool high school, as well as a GED or certificate of completion earned in 2023 or later.
Files the FAFSA every year
List Glen Oaks Community College, school code 002263, and file again each year you want the guarantee.
Enrolls within 15 months
Your student must start at Glen Oaks within 15 months of high school graduation.
Studies full time
Enroll full time in a certificate or associate degree program. Grades and test scores do not have to be perfect.
What it is worth
Glen Oaks charges in-district students $143 per contact hour in tuition plus a $42 student fee per contact hour for fall 2026, or $185 in all.
- One 3-hour class
- $555
- Full-time semester (12 hours)
- $2,220
- Semester at 15 hours
- $2,775
- One year at 12 hours a semester
- $4,440
- Three years at 12 hours a semester
- $13,320
The guarantee is calculated at in-district rates, and Glen Oaks charges $176 per hour for service-area counties and $213 for other Michigan residents, so ask Financial Aid whether you would owe the difference if you live outside St. Joseph County.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
File the FAFSA
Complete the FAFSA and list Glen Oaks Community College with school code 002263.
- Within 15 months of graduating
Apply to Glen Oaks
The application is free and takes a few minutes.
- Before classes
Meet with Financial Aid
Financial Aid confirms that your student qualifies for the guarantee.
- Each year, up to three
Stay full time and refile
Keep full-time enrollment in a certificate or associate degree program and file the FAFSA again.
What it pays for
Covered
- In-district tuition
- Mandatory fees
- Certificate, associate degree, and transfer programs
Not covered
- Books
- Housing
Your student can combine the guarantee with Pell Grants, local scholarships, and other aid, and other grants may help with books and housing.
Who to contact
The Financial Aid office at 62249 Shimmel Rd., Centreville, confirms eligibility for the Community College Guarantee and helps with the FAFSA.
financialaid@glenoaks.edu 269-467-9945
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Michigan
No state report under the parent-led homeschool exemption, MCL 380.1561(3)(f). The nonpublic-school route has separate reporting; an annual membership report is required for eligibility for auxiliary services.
Michigan sets these rules:
- Subjects: Under exemption (f), provide an organized program in reading, spelling, math, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar. The nonpublic-school route requires subjects comparable to local public schools.
- Testing: Michigan does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: No prescribed homeschool portfolio or attendance-record format under exemption (f). Keep progress records for transfers; the nonpublic-school route has separate reporting requirements.
- Teachers: Under exemption (f), the instructor must be the child’s parent or legal guardian; no degree or teaching credential is required. MDE requires a reporting nonpublic homeschool parent to have at least a bachelor’s degree unless a sincerely held religious objection applies.
Read the Michigan homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Michigan
Questions parents ask
- Our student graduated in 2024 and took a gap year. Is it too late for the Glen Oaks guarantee?
- Possibly. Your student must enroll within 15 months of high school graduation, so count the months from the date on your homeschool diploma.
- Does the Glen Oaks guarantee pay for books?
- No. Books and housing are not covered, though other grants and resources may help with those costs.
- Can my student go part time?
- No. The guarantee requires full-time enrollment in a certificate or associate degree program.
- Who counts as in-district?
- Residents of St. Joseph County, Michigan, and students living in Glen Oaks student housing pay in-district rates.
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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