Homeschool benefits and savings in Mitchell and Davison County

Mitchell Technical College charges South Dakota high school juniors and seniors a reduced dual credit rate of $80.37 per credit hour, or $241.11 for a 3-credit class. Homeschooled students in grades 11 and 12 qualify once the parent has an approved dual credit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South Dakota Department of Education.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Who qualifies

1. Is in grade 11 or 12

   Mitchell Tech accepts any high school junior or senior whose district or parent has an approved MOU with the South Dakota Department of Education.

2. Has a parent dual credit MOU

   File an Alternative Instruction Notification (AIN) with the Department of Education, answer yes to the dual credit question, then choose Finish Dual Credit MOU and sign it. The department signs the MOU and emails it to Mitchell Tech with you copied.

3. Meets course entry rules

   Most 100-level courses without a prerequisite are open. English 101T requires an ACT English score of 18 or an equivalent placement score such as Next-Generation ACCUPLACER.

4. Has a Windows laptop

   Every dual credit student needs a Windows 10 laptop. Microsoft Office is provided at no extra cost.

What dual credit costs

Mitchell Tech lists a dual credit rate of $80.37 per credit hour for in-state students and $160.74 for out-of-state students.

One credit hour

$80.37

One 3-credit class

$241.11

Two 3-credit classes

$482.22

Four 3-credit classes

$964.44

One credit hour, out of state

$160.74

Textbooks are not included, and Mitchell Tech's dual credit guidelines say no financial aid is available for dual credit, though a 529 education savings plan can pay the tuition.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before you apply

   File the AIN and MOU

   Submit your Alternative Instruction Notification, answer yes to dual credit, and complete the dual credit MOU with the Department of Education.

2. When registration opens

   Apply and pick classes

   Complete Mitchell Tech's online dual credit application, then upload the Dual Enrollment Approval Form and documents through the docs portal. Summer and fall 2026 registration opened April 1, 2026, and classes fill first come, first served.

3. After registration

   Get your schedule and invoice

   Mitchell Tech emails the course schedule and an invoice once registration is processed.

4. First 10 class days

   Pay and finish orientation

   Pay within the first ten days of the semester. Online students must finish the Mitchell Tech Online Orientation by the add/drop date or are dropped, and a class dropped in this window is not charged.

What it pays for

Covered

• Tuition at the reduced dual credit rate
• Microsoft Office
• Grades on a Mitchell Tech transcript

Not covered

• Textbooks
• Windows 10 laptop
• Official transcript fee
• Guaranteed transfer of credits

Good to know

• The form does not say who signs for homeschoolers

  The form calls for a school administrator's signature and does not say who signs for a homeschool student, so ask Hillary Vining in the enrollment office before you upload it.

Who to contact

Hillary Vining, Director of Enrollment, answers dual credit questions, including how a homeschool student completes the approval form.

Hillary.Vining@mitchelltech.edu 605-995-7114 Dual credit page

Homeschool rules and statewide help in South Dakota

You must file an alternative-instruction notification with the Department of Education or local district within 30 days of starting. Update it within 30 days of moving or returning to public or private school; no annual renewal is required.

South Dakota sets these rules:

• Subjects: Provide instruction in language arts and mathematics and ensure the child masters English.
• Testing: No routine annual homeschool standardized test or score submission is required. Public-school reentry may involve testing.
• Records: South Dakota does not require homeschool records.
• Teachers: No state teaching certificate is required. No alternative instructor may instruct more than 22 children.

Read the South Dakota homeschooling guide See statewide programs in South Dakota

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