Homeschool benefits: East Mississippi Community College

East Mississippi Community College lets homeschooled high schoolers take college courses through dual enrollment. Its most recent published dual enrollment rate, for 2024-25, was $45 per course for up to 15 hours a semester plus books, compared with $165 per credit hour for regular in-state students in 2026-27; ask the college for this year's dual rate.

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

East Mississippi Community College homeschool dual enrollment

Who qualifies

1. Junior or senior for academics

   Academic courses need junior or senior standing, or a composite ACT of 30 or the SAT equivalent. The minimum GPA is 3.0 for academic courses and 2.0 for career-technical courses, which also take sophomores.

2. Has a recommendation form

   Homeschool parents request EMCC's recommendation form individually by emailing dualcredit@eastms.edu.

3. Brings a notarized transcript

   Homeschooled students bring a notarized transcript, including any ACT score, and the recommendation form.

4. Lives in the district counties

   Academic dual enrollment lists Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Noxubee, and Oktibbeha counties.

What it costs

The dual enrollment rates are EMCC's published 2024-25 rates, the latest on its dual enrollment page; the regular rate is from the 2026-27 tuition schedule.

One dual enrollment course, 2024-25

$45 plus books

Each hour past 15 a semester, 2024-25

$165

Out-of-state dual students, 2024-25

$265 per hour

Regular in-state tuition, 2026-27

$165 per credit hour

Regular 3-hour course, 2026-27

$495

The 2026-27 tuition schedule does not list a dual enrollment rate, so confirm the current per-course price with the dual credit office before you register.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Request the form

   Email dualcredit@eastms.edu for the recommendation form, which homeschool parents request one student at a time.

2. Apply

   Choose Dual Enrollment

   Apply online, set up a login, and pick Dual Enrollment as the major on the admission application.

3. At registration

   Bring the paperwork

   Bring the notarized transcript and recommendation form, and meet course prerequisites such as an ACT English subscore of 17 for English Composition I.

4. Each semester

   Pay tuition and books

   eBooks are billed to your account and appear in Canvas. Pay through your LEO student account, in person, or by calling the Business Office at 662-243-1906.

What it pays for

Covered

• Academic courses
• Career-technical courses
• Online courses through Canvas

Not covered

• Textbooks, billed to your account
• Course fees such as science lab or online fees

Who to contact

The dual credit office sends homeschool recommendation forms and answers questions about eligibility and cost.

dualcredit@eastms.edu 662-243-2654 Dual Enrollment

Meridian Community College dual credit

Who qualifies

1. Is a junior or senior

   Academic dual credit is for high school juniors and seniors, shown on an official high school transcript.

2. Has a 3.0 GPA and scores

   Your student needs at least a 3.0 high school GPA and must take the ACT or Accuplacer before enrolling.

3. Submits a sworn homeschool transcript

   Homeschooled students submit a transcript prepared by a parent, guardian, or custodian with a signed, sworn affidavit, plus the parent's written recommendation on MCC's form.

4. Lives in Lauderdale County

   Students must be residents of Lauderdale County. Out-of-state homeschool students pay $163.05 per credit hour.

What it costs

MCC's Fall 2026 to Summer 2027 tuition schedule, approved June 18, 2026, lists home school dual credit at $35 per academic credit hour, compared with $215 for regular part-time Mississippi residents.

One 3-hour academic class

$105

Two 3-hour academic classes

$210

One 3-hour career-tech class

$150

Same 3-hour class at the regular part-time rate

$645

One 3-hour class, out-of-state homeschool

$489.15

Some classes add an Inclusive Access Materials fee for textbooks and course materials, so ask the Dual Education Coordinator what your student's classes add.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   Take the ACT or Accuplacer

   Your student needs a score on file. English Comp I takes a 17 English subscore and College Algebra a 19 math subscore.

2. Step 1

   Apply for admission

   Submit the MCC application at meridiancc.edu/apply with Dual Credit/Enrollment as the enrollment path and UT-Dual Education as the program of study.

3. Step 2

   Choose classes

   Pick classes from the term's offerings and note each course name and CRN. Fall 2026 online classes run August 24 to December 4.

4. Step 3

   Submit the dual credit form

   Send the dual credit form with the sworn homeschool transcript and parent recommendation.

5. Each course

   Earn a C or better

   A course counts for college credit only with a C or higher, and MCC recommends keeping a 2.5 GPA to protect future financial aid.

What it pays for

Covered

• Academic general education classes
• Career and technical classes
• Online and on-campus classes

Not covered

• Inclusive Access Materials fees on some classes

Good to know

• Homeschoolers pay per credit hour, not per course

  Lauderdale County high school students pay $45 per course, while the homeschool rate is $35 per credit hour for academic classes and $50 for career-tech classes.

Who to contact

Katie Barrett, MCC's Dual Education Coordinator, answers questions about eligibility, homeschool paperwork, and class fees.

katie.barrett@meridiancc.edu 601-481-1311 Academic Dual Credit

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Mississippi

You must file the annual Certificate of Enrollment with the local school attendance officer by August 15. A child enrolled in public school within the first 15 calendar days of the school year may transfer to a legitimate homeschool later and file then.

Mississippi sets these rules:

• Subjects: No state-prescribed curriculum, but the child must receive a legitimate home instruction program rather than one established to evade compulsory attendance.
• Testing: Mississippi does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
• Records: No mandated homeschool portfolio. MDE recommends keeping the enrollment certificate, work samples, assessment results, and a materials log.
• Teachers: No state degree or teaching-license requirement for homeschool parents.

Read the Mississippi homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Mississippi

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