Homeschool benefits and savings in Haywood County
The HCC Tuition Free Guarantee pays in-state tuition for up to four fall and spring semesters at Haywood Community College, up to $4,864 at the 16-hour tuition cap. Class of 2026 homeschool graduates from Haywood County qualify with a 2.8 high school GPA and full-time enrollment.
Who qualifies
Graduates in 2026 in Haywood County
Your student must be a 2026 graduate of a Haywood County public, private, or homeschool program, or an HCC High School Equivalency graduate.
Has a 2.8 high school GPA
The college requires a minimum high school GPA of 2.8 to qualify for the first year.
Files the FAFSA and HCC application
Your student completes the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the HCC scholarship application at haywood.awardspring.com, both every year.
Enrolls full time
Your student takes at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester and meets with an HCC Success Coach before registering for classes.
What it is worth
Haywood Community College charges North Carolina residents $76 per credit hour for 2026-27, up to 16 hours a semester.
- One class (3 hours)
- $228
- Full-time minimum (12 hours)
- $912
- Tuition cap (16 hours)
- $1,216
- One year at 16 hours a semester
- $2,432
- Four semesters at 16 hours
- $4,864
The Guarantee pays tuition only, so the $50 student activity fee, $48 technology fee, and $5 access fee each semester stay on your bill unless other aid covers them.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you enroll
Apply and file the FAFSA
Submit the HCC admission application, file the FAFSA, and complete the HCC scholarship application at haywood.awardspring.com.
- Before registering
Meet your Success Coach
Your student meets with an HCC Success Coach before signing up for courses.
- By July 24, 2026
Finish every step
All steps must be done before Friday, July 24, 2026 for the Fall 2026 semester. Awards need scholarship committee approval.
- Each year
Reapply and keep a 2.0
File the FAFSA and the HCC scholarship application again, hold a 2.0 HCC GPA, and stay at 12 or more credit hours each fall and spring.
What it pays for
Covered
- In-state tuition
- Fall and spring semesters
Not covered
- Program and course fees
- Out-of-state tuition
- Books and materials
- Summer semesters
Who pays first
- Federal aid (Pell and FSEOG)
- State aid (NCCCG, NCELS, NC Long Leaf)
- Other scholarships
- HCC Tuition Free Guarantee
It is last-dollar aid: federal grants, state grants, and other scholarships apply first, and the Guarantee pays the in-state tuition that remains.
Awards depend on scholarship committee approval and the funds available each year.
Good to know
Homeschool graduates can qualify
Haywood Community College lists public, private, and homeschool graduates from Haywood County as eligible, as long as your student graduates in 2026 with at least a 2.8 GPA.
Who to contact
The scholarships office answers questions about the Guarantee and the scholarship application, weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
hcc-scholarships@haywood.edu 828-627-2821 Scholarships page
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
Questions parents ask
- What will we still pay with the HCC Tuition Free Guarantee?
- You pay course or program fees, the per-semester activity, technology, and access fees, and books and materials. Tuition left after grants and other scholarships is covered.
- Does the Guarantee pay for summer classes?
- No. It covers fall and spring semesters only, up to four semesters over two years.
- Do we need to file the FAFSA if we will not get a Pell Grant?
- Yes. The FAFSA is required every year, because federal and state aid are applied before the Guarantee pays.
- What does my student need to do to keep it for a second year?
- Keep at least a 2.0 GPA at HCC, take 12 or more credit hours each fall and spring, and refile the FAFSA and the HCC scholarship application.
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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