Homeschool benefits and savings in Fairfield County
The Fairfield Promise pays the tuition and related fees left after federal and state aid at Midlands Technical College (MTC), where in-district tuition is $206 a credit hour, or $2,472 for a 12-hour term. Graduates of a state-approved Fairfield County home school qualify if they have lived in the county for at least 12 months.
Who qualifies
Graduated from a county home school
Graduates of a Fairfield County public, charter, or private high school, a state-approved home school program, or a GED qualify.
Lives in Fairfield County
Your student must have lived in Fairfield County for at least 12 months and meet MTC's residency rules.
Enrolls at MTC promptly
The county's page says to enroll within nine months of graduation or GED completion, while MTC's page allows 36 months. Enroll within nine months to be safe and ask MTC which rule applies.
Completes the FAFSA
Your student files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so federal and state aid applies first.
What it is worth
MTC charges students in Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties $206 per credit hour.
- One class (3 hours)
- $618
- Full-time term (12 hours)
- $2,472
- Term at 15 hours
- $3,090
- One year at 12 hours a term
- $4,944
- Three years at 12 hours a term
- $14,832
MTC also charges a $50 enrollment fee, a $150 student fee, and course fees per credit hour; ask the Fairfield Campus which of these the Promise counts as related fees.
From applying to keeping it
- Senior year
Apply to MTC
Apply through MTC admissions and meet the college's admission requirements.
- Same time
File the FAFSA
Complete the FAFSA. Funds are first come, first served, so do not wait.
- Within nine months
Enroll at MTC
Start classes at MTC, such as at the Fairfield Campus in Winnsboro, soon after graduation.
- Each semester
Meet an advisor
Consult an Academic and Career advisor every semester and keep a cumulative 2.0 GPA at MTC.
- Within three years
Finish the program
Complete the degree, diploma, or certificate in no more than three academic years or nine semesters.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition
- Related fees
- Degrees, diplomas, and academic certificates at MTC
Not covered
- Books and supplies
- Costs already paid by federal and state aid
Who pays first
- Federal grants
- State aid
- Fairfield Promise
It is last-dollar aid: federal and state aid apply first, and the Promise pays the tuition and related fees that remain.
Fairfield County and the Fairfield County School District fund the Promise with MTC, and money is awarded first come, first served.
Who to contact
The Fairfield Campus at 1674 U.S. 321 Business in Winnsboro serves Fairfield County students and can answer Promise questions.
803-815-6650 Fairfield Campus page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in South Carolina
Choose one legal route: district-board approval (Option 1), SCAIHS membership (Option 2), or membership in a qualifying homeschool association with at least 50 members (Option 3). Follow that route’s enrollment and renewal process.
South Carolina sets these rules:
- Subjects: Teach reading, writing, math, science, and social studies; add composition and literature in grades 7–12. Provide at least 180 instructional days; Option 1 also requires at least 4.5 hours per day.
- Testing: Option 1 requires the annual statewide tests for the student’s grade. Options 2 and 3 follow their association’s rules; Option 3 has no statutory standardized-test requirement.
- Records: Keep attendance and academic records. Options 1 and 3 require a planbook or diary, work portfolio, and semiannual progress reports; follow district or association submission rules.
- Teachers: A high-school diploma or GED is the minimum educational qualification. A bachelor’s degree is not required for SCAIHS (Option 2). Option 1 requires district approval under Section 59-65-40.
South Carolina also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Education Scholarship Trust Fund pays $7,634 for 2026-27. Up to $3,000 of that award may cover approved transportation; it is not extra funding. The program excludes students in Option 1, 2, or 3 homeschool associations. Families on another home-education path must confirm eligibility with the program.
Read the South Carolina homeschooling guide See statewide programs in South Carolina
Questions parents ask
- Does a homeschool diploma count for the Fairfield Promise?
- Yes. Both Fairfield County and MTC list graduates of a state-approved home school program as eligible, as long as your student lives in Fairfield County.
- Does the Fairfield Promise have an income limit?
- No. Neither the county nor MTC lists one. Your student must still file the FAFSA, and the Promise covers what federal and state aid leaves unpaid.
- How fast must my student enroll?
- Within nine months of graduation, to be safe. The county page says nine months and MTC's campus page says 36 months, so confirm with the Fairfield Campus.
- What keeps the Promise going after the first year?
- A cumulative 2.0 GPA at MTC, an advisor meeting each semester, and finishing within three academic years or nine semesters.
- Can the money run out?
- Yes. Funds are given first come, first served, so apply to MTC and file the FAFSA early.
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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