Homeschool benefits and savings in Johnston County
The JoCo Commissioners Promise pays the tuition left after grants and other aid at Johnston Community College, up to $1,216 a semester at the 16-hour tuition cap. Johnston County graduates of 2026 or 2027, including homeschool diploma earners, qualify if they enroll within a year of graduating.
Who qualifies
Graduates in 2026 or 2027
Your student graduated from a Johnston County high school, or earned a homeschool or high school equivalency diploma, in 2026 or 2027. Early College, Career and College Promise, and Career and Technical Leadership Academy graduates also qualify.
Is a North Carolina resident
Your student must be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes.
Enrolls within one year
Your student enrolls in a curriculum program for at least six credit hours a semester within one year of graduation.
Files the FAFSA
Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) using school code 009336, and meet Johnston Community College's satisfactory academic progress rules.
What it is worth
North Carolina residents pay $76 per credit hour at Johnston Community College, up to 16 hours a semester.
- One class (3 hours)
- $228
- Minimum load (6 hours)
- $456
- Full time (12 hours)
- $912
- 16 or more hours
- $1,216
- One year at 16 hours a semester
- $2,432
The Promise covers tuition only, so the activity and technology fees on each bill stay with you unless other aid pays them.
From applying to keeping it
- Before you enroll
File the FAFSA
Use school code 009336 so Pell Grants and state aid are counted before the Promise pays.
- Within a year of graduating
Enroll in a program
Register for at least six credit hours a semester in a curriculum program at Johnston Community College.
- By the end of the first term
Meet every requirement
All eligibility must be met by the end of your student's first term. The college makes no late disbursements.
- Each semester
Keep making progress
Your student must meet the college's satisfactory academic progress requirements to keep the award.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition left after other aid
Not covered
- Textbooks
- Lab kits
- Course-specific fees
- Supplies
Who pays first
- Pell Grants
- State aid
- Scholarships and sponsorships
- JoCo Commissioners Promise
It is last-dollar aid: Pell Grants, state aid, scholarships, and sponsorships apply first, and the Promise pays the tuition that remains.
Who to contact
The Financial Aid Office answers questions about the Promise and the FAFSA, Monday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
jccfinancialaid@johnstoncc.edu 919-209-2036 Scholarships and grants 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
- Does a homeschool diploma count for the JoCo Commissioners Promise?
- Yes. Johnston Community College lists homeschool diploma earners alongside Johnston County high school and high school equivalency graduates from 2026 or 2027.
- Does my student have to go full time for the JoCo Commissioners Promise?
- No. The minimum is six credit hours a semester in a curriculum program.
- What will we still pay for?
- Textbooks, lab kits, course-specific fees, and supplies. The Promise pays only tuition not already covered by other aid.
- Can my student wait before starting college?
- Only up to a year. Your student has to enroll within one year of graduation.
- What if paperwork is late?
- Every requirement has to be met by the end of the first term, and the college will not pay the award late.
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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