Homeschool benefits: Ozarks Technical Community College southwest Missouri
Ozarks Technical Community College (Ozarks Tech) charges homeschool students $57 per credit hour for a select list of online dual credit general education courses, so a 3-credit class costs $171 in tuition. Missouri homeschool students qualify if they are at least 16 when classes begin.
Who qualifies
At least 16 when classes start
Homeschool students must be 16 by the time Ozarks Tech classes begin.
Missouri homeschool student
Missouri homeschool students can take the online dual credit courses. A homeschool approver verifies enrollment through DualEnroll.
Chooses from the online list
Dual credit is limited to a select list of online general education courses. Other courses go through Early Start at the regular tuition rate.
What classes cost
Ozarks Tech's 2026 tuition page lists dual credit at $57 per credit hour and regular in-district Tier I tuition at $140 per credit hour.
- Dual credit, per credit hour
- $57
- Dual credit, 3-credit class
- $171
- Dual credit, two 3-credit classes
- $342
- Early Start, 3 credits at in-district Tier I
- $420
- Early Start, 3 credits out of district
- $618
Regular students also pay a $52 semester registration fee and per-credit fees, and the pages do not say whether dual credit students pay them, so ask dualcredit@otc.edu.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Check the age rule
Make sure your student will be 16 by the first day of class.
- Registration
Enroll through DualEnroll
Apply for dual credit, and your homeschool approver confirms the enrollment in DualEnroll. Choose Early Start instead if you also want regular-rate courses.
- After registering
Apply for scholarships
Apply for the state dual credit scholarship first. Ozarks Tech's need-based scholarship runs September 1-October 1 for fall and February 1-March 1 for spring.
- During the term
Follow the college calendar
Online assignments follow the Ozarks Tech academic calendar, not your homeschool schedule.
What it pays for
Covered
- College credit that transfers to Missouri public colleges under CORE 42
Not covered
- Early Start courses, which charge regular tuition
- Federal financial aid
- Courses not on the dual credit list
Who pays first
- Missouri Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment Scholarship
- Ozarks Tech Dual Credit Scholarship
- Your family
Ozarks Tech asks students to apply for the state scholarship first, since it has more funds, and families not selected for the Ozarks Tech scholarship still owe the full balance.
The Ozarks Tech dual credit scholarship is competitive and limited to the funds available each semester.
Good to know
Students must be 16 when classes begin
A 15-year-old must wait: homeschool students must be at least 16 by the time classes begin.
Current students do not need a transcript
Current high school students in dual credit do not submit a transcript. A homeschool graduate applying for regular admission submits a parent-signed transcript with letter grades.
Who to contact
The dual credit office answers questions about homeschool enrollment, course options, and scholarships.
dualcredit@otc.edu 417-447-7500 Homeschool programs page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Missouri
No annual homeschool registration required. If withdrawing from public school, a written notice requesting removal from its rolls documents the change.
Missouri sets these rules:
- Subjects: For students under 16, offer at least 1,000 hours of instruction: 600 in reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, or related courses, including 400 at the regular homeschool location. The statutory hours and recordkeeping rules do not apply at age 16 or older.
- Testing: Missouri does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: For students under 16, keep a subject and activity record, a work-sample portfolio, and progress evaluations, or equivalent written or credible evidence.
- Teachers: No state teaching-license or degree requirement for a homeschool instructor.
Read the Missouri homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Missouri
Questions parents ask
- Can my student take both dual credit and Early Start classes?
- Yes. Choose Early Start on the admission application and follow the Early Start process, and your homeschool approver verifies the dual credit courses in DualEnroll.
- Will the credits transfer?
- Most dual credit courses transfer to other Missouri public colleges through the CORE 42 Transfer Guarantee. Check with the receiving college about its policies.
- Is there a scholarship after high school?
- Yes. Students who took Dual Credit or Early Start courses are eligible for the High School Programs Transition Scholarship when they enroll after graduating.
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