Homeschool benefits and savings in Alleghany, Ashe, or Wilkes County

Wilkes Community College’s Education Promise covers remaining tuition and institutional fees for up to two years for qualifying homeschool graduates from Wilkes, Ashe, or Alleghany County. Your student must have at least a 2.0 unweighted high school GPA and enroll in at least six credits the academic year after graduation.

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

Who qualifies

1. Graduates in the service area

   Graduate from a public, private, or home school in Wilkes, Ashe, or Alleghany County, or complete a high school equivalency credential at Wilkes Community College. The college also names some Watauga students as an exception, without giving the criteria; ask Ashley Van Hoy whether your student fits that exception.

2. Meets academic and enrollment rules

   Have at least a 2.0 unweighted high school GPA and meet the college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress rules, including college classes taken in high school. Enroll in at least six credits in a curriculum program in fall or spring of the academic year immediately after your high school credential.

3. Completes annual aid requirements

   Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), any requested verification documents, and the college scholarship application. After eligibility review, complete the required donor thank-you and photo upload.

4. Keeps continuous enrollment

   Avoid gap semesters other than summer and meet your advisor each semester. Register for all semester courses, including short-session courses, before the financial aid registration cutoff to guarantee their payment.

What it is worth

The college confirms two-year coverage, a six-credit enrollment minimum, and specific expense exclusions, without listing a fixed annual dollar award.

Program tuition

100% of eligible balance after aid

Institutional fees

100% of eligible balance after aid

Enrollment per semester

At least 6 credit hours

Required summer courses

Covered

Award duration

Up to two years

Out-of-state-classified students who otherwise qualify can receive the equivalent of in-state tuition for their credit hours, rather than full out-of-state tuition.

From applying to keeping it

1. From December 1

   Start the next-year application

   The scholarship application opens December 1 for the following school year. Complete it and your FAFSA each year.

2. By September 1 or February 1

   Finish application and aid forms

   The fall deadline is September 1; the spring deadline is February 1. Submit requested verification before an award can be made.

3. By September 15 or February 15

   Complete donor requirements

   Submit the thank-you and photo requested through your college email by September 15 for fall or February 15 for spring.

4. First academic year after graduation

   Enroll in your credential

   Start in fall or spring with at least six credits toward a certificate, diploma, or associate degree.

5. Each semester

   Keep enrollment and advising

   Remain continuously enrolled except for summer, meet your advisor, and follow the Student Code of Conduct and academic progress rules.

What it pays for

Covered

• Program tuition
• Institutional fees
• Required summer courses

Not covered

• Books and required materials
• Course-specific and program-specific fees
• Courses outside your credential
• Living expenses

Who pays first

1. Federal and state financial aid
2. Education Promise

The Promise pays the eligible tuition and institutional-fee balance after federal and state aid; total scholarships cannot exceed the cost of attendance.

Good to know

• Homeschool graduates from three counties qualify

  The college explicitly accepts home school graduates from Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties. Your student must satisfy the GPA, financial aid, timing, and college enrollment conditions.

• Six credit hours a semester is the minimum

  Full-time study is not required. The minimum is six credit hours per semester in a curriculum program. Your student must still meet academic progress rules and avoid gap semesters other than summer.

Who to contact

Ashley Van Hoy answers Education Promise questions about eligibility, applications, and awards.

aevanhoy492@wilkescc.edu 336-838-6237

Homeschool rules and statewide help in North Carolina

You must file the Notice of Intent with DNPE at least five business days before home instruction begins; wait for DNPE acknowledgment before withdrawing or starting. No annual renewal is required while operating; notify DNPE when the school closes.

North Carolina sets these rules:

• Subjects: Parents choose the curriculum. Operate on a regular schedule for at least nine calendar months each year, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations.
• Testing: Administer a nationally standardized achievement test each year covering English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics.
• Records: Keep attendance and immunization records. Retain annual test results for at least one year and make them available to DNPE on request.
• Teachers: The teaching parent needs a high school diploma or equivalent in North Carolina.

North Carolina also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.

• Education Student Accounts (ESA+) pay $9,000 a year, or $17,000 for certain disabilities, to students with a documented disability, including homeschooled students. Funding can run out before the school year starts.

Read the North Carolina homeschooling guide See statewide programs in North Carolina

Find benefits for your ZIP code