Homeschool benefits and savings in Wayne County
Wayne Community College’s Bison Benefit covers remaining in-state tuition and fees for four semesters after other aid. Homeschool graduates qualify with a 2.8 or higher GPA, 12 Career and College Promise credits earned at Wayne during high school, and full-time enrollment the following fall.
Who qualifies
Graduates from a home school
The scholarship includes public, private, charter, and homeschool graduates with a GPA of at least 2.8. The current eligibility list does not state a Wayne County residency requirement.
Earns 12 college credits early
Complete 12 Career and College Promise credits at Wayne Community College while still enrolled in high school.
Starts full time the following fall
Apply for college admission and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before the Foundation scholarship application. Enroll full time in the fall immediately after graduation.
Keeps college progress and attendance
Complete at least 12 credit hours each semester, keep a college GPA of at least 2.8, and attend without a semester break other than summer. File the FAFSA by June 1 each year and attend the annual fall information session.
What it is worth
Wayne’s published schedule charges $76 per credit hour up to 16 hours, plus $48 technology and $35 activity fees each semester; examples assume unchanged rates and no prior aid.
- 12-hour semester
- $995
- 15-hour semester
- $1,223
- 16-hour semester
- $1,299
- Four 12-hour semesters
- $3,980
- Four 16-hour semesters
- $5,196
These are scheduled charges before other aid, not a cash payment to your family. The scholarship pays the eligible balance left after financial aid and other scholarships.
From applying to keeping it
- During high school
Earn qualifying credits
Complete the 12 required college credits at Wayne and graduate with the required GPA.
- Before applying
Apply to college and file aid
Submit your admission application and FAFSA first.
- March 1-March 31
Submit the Foundation application
Use the common Foundation scholarship application; the college matches applicants to scholarships.
- Following fall
Enroll and attend the session
Start full time after high school graduation and attend the Bison Benefit information session sent by email.
- Each subsequent year
Keep the award requirements
File your FAFSA by June 1 and maintain 12 completed credits each semester, a 2.8 GPA, and continuous attendance excluding summer.
What it pays for
Covered
- In-state tuition
- Eligible college fees
Not covered
- Charges left after the award
- Workforce Continuing Education scholarships
Who pays first
- Financial aid and other scholarships
- Bison Benefit
Bison Benefit pays eligible in-state tuition and fees only after financial aid and other scholarships have been applied.
Wayne reserves the right to limit the number of awards and encourages early applications.
Good to know
Homeschool graduates can qualify
Bison Benefit specifically accepts home school graduation. Your student must also meet the high school GPA, Wayne college-credit, application, and immediate fall enrollment requirements.
Who to contact
The Foundation scholarship coordinator answers questions about applications, awards, and Bison Benefit eligibility.
wdpotter@waynecc.edu 919-739-7006
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
- Is Bison Benefit a check for four semesters of tuition?
- No. It covers the in-state tuition and fee balance remaining after other scholarships and financial aid. An award can therefore be smaller than the published semester bill.
- Can my student take a semester off?
- Only in summer. The scholarship requires no break between semesters other than summer, at least 12 completed hours each semester, and at least a 2.8 college GPA.
- When should we apply?
- Bison Benefit applications run March 1 through March 31. The Foundation’s longer application windows for other scholarships do not extend the Bison Benefit deadline.
- Is Wayne County residence required?
- Not as far as the college says. The current eligibility list names no county residence condition, but it requires Wayne college credits during high school and covers in-state tuition, so ask the Foundation about your student's tuition classification.
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.
Find benefits for your ZIP code