Homeschool benefits: Isothermal Community College
Through Career and College Promise (CCP), Isothermal Community College lets North Carolina high school juniors and seniors, including homeschooled students, take college courses tuition-free, worth $76 per credit hour. CCP students also skip the student activity, technology, and CAPS fees other students pay.
Who qualifies
Junior or senior in North Carolina
Public, private, and homeschool students in North Carolina can take part. The College Transfer and Technical Careers pathways are for high school juniors and seniors.
Has a 2.8 unweighted GPA
Or your student shows college readiness on an approved test in English, reading, and math. For Technical Careers, a principal or equivalent can recommend a student who is below 2.8.
Has your homeschool's transcript
As homeschool administrator, you are the high school representative. You submit a transcript with grade level, courses, unweighted GPA, and expected graduation date, and sign the permission form.
What it is worth
North Carolina sets community college tuition at $76 per credit hour for residents, and Isothermal waives it for CCP students.
- One 3-credit course
- $228
- One 4-credit lab course
- $304
- Two courses (6 hours) a semester
- $456
- 12 hours a semester
- $912
- Activity, technology, and CAPS fees
- Waived
The college's CCP pages do not say who pays for textbooks or program-specific materials, so ask a CCP navigator before your student registers.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you apply
Book an appointment
Homeschool families schedule an appointment by emailing ccp@isothermal.edu.
- To enroll
Apply and send papers
Complete the CCP application and permission form and submit a high school transcript. Your student then gets login details for Moodle, email, and Patriot Port.
- Each registration window
Register for classes
Register during the dates on Isothermal's academic calendar, then verify classes in Patriot Port.
- Each term
Send an updated transcript
Provide a new transcript showing your student is still in high school and making progress toward graduation.
- After two courses
Keep a 2.0 GPA
Your student must hold a 2.0 college GPA after completing two courses to keep enrolling.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition on CCP pathway courses
- Student activity fee
- Technology fee
- CAPS fee
CCP waives tuition and the three standard student fees; some programs carry extra costs for materials and equipment.
Good to know
Homeschooled students can take CCP classes
Isothermal says public school, private school, and homeschool students in North Carolina can participate. Homeschool families book a start-up appointment by emailing ccp@isothermal.edu.
Who to contact
The CCP office in the Patriot Hub answers questions about eligibility, appointments for homeschool students, and registration, Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon.
ccp@isothermal.edu 828-395-4337 Get started with CCP
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
- Who signs as the principal for a homeschooled student in Isothermal CCP?
- You do, as the homeschool administrator. The college treats the homeschool administrator, usually the parent, as the high school representative, and you provide the transcript and the permission form.
- What if my student's GPA is below 2.8?
- Your student can qualify by showing college readiness on an approved assessment. For the Technical Careers pathway, a principal's recommendation with the college chief academic officer's approval can also stand in for the GPA.
- Do CCP courses transfer to a university?
- Yes, for College Transfer pathway courses. They count toward the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science and transfer to any public or participating private college or university in North Carolina.
- Which campuses can my student use?
- The Rutherford campus in Spindale and the Polk campus in Columbus.
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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