Homeschool benefits: Columbia State Community College

Columbia State Community College lets juniors and seniors in a Tennessee home education program take college courses at in-state tuition plus a 5% access fee, about $620.55 for a 3-credit course in 2026-27. The Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant pays that tuition and fee for your student's first five courses.

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

Who qualifies

1. In a Tennessee home education program

   Columbia State accepts students who attend a Tennessee public or private secondary school or home education program. Homeschool transcripts count as official when you followed the state's home school laws, though more documents may be requested.

2. Is a junior or senior

   Students must be high school juniors or seniors to take dual enrollment courses and receive the state grant.

3. Meets course prerequisites

   Test scores are not required for admission, but ACT or SAT scores can meet course prerequisites, and placement testing may be recommended after admission.

4. Applies for the state grant

   Submit the grant application at the start of the semester to secure your student's schedule, and reapply each academic year.

What it is worth

Columbia State charges $197 per credit hour of in-state tuition for 2026-27, and dual enrollment adds the 5% general access fee set by the Tennessee General Assembly.

3-credit course, tuition and access fee

$620.55

4-credit course, tuition and access fee

$827.40

Courses 1-5 with the state grant

$0 tuition

Courses 6-10, state grant per course

Up to $600

Courses 6-10, 3 credits, left to pay

$320.55

For courses 6 through 10 the state pays $100 per credit hour, up to $600 a course, so your family pays the rest of the tuition and fee.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before the term

   Apply to Columbia State

   Complete the online application through the Columbia State connect portal and send your homeschool transcript to the Admissions Office.

2. After you apply

   Send the required forms

   Submit the dual enrollment consent form, the Hepatitis B form, and proof of citizenship or lawful presence by email to Processing@ColumbiaState.edu, by fax, or by mail.

3. Start of the semester

   Apply for the state grant

   Submit the Dual Enrollment Grant application through College for TN. The state lists June 30 as its grant deadline for all terms of the academic year.

4. 3-5 business days later

   Check your account

   Admissions documents take three to five business days to appear on your student's account, and a confirmation letter arrives with the Columbia State ID number.

5. Each term

   Keep a 2.0 college GPA

   A college GPA below 2.00 ends grant eligibility and dual enrollment eligibility at Columbia State.

What it pays for

Covered

• Tuition for courses 1-5
• The 5% access fee on courses 1-5
• Up to $100 per credit hour for courses 6-10

Not covered

• Books
• Tuition left on courses 6-10
• Courses after the tenth

Who pays first

1. Tennessee Dual Enrollment Grant
2. Your family

The state grant applies first, and you pay whatever tuition and fees it does not cover.

Who to contact

The Admissions Office answers dual enrollment questions, including what homeschool documents it needs.

Admissions@ColumbiaState.edu 931-540-2790 Dual enrollment checklist

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Tennessee

For independent homeschools, file a notice with the local education agency before each school year. A first-time filing may be made at any time during the school year; there is no fixed August 1 deadline.

Tennessee sets these rules:

• Subjects: Independent homeschool parents select and identify their curriculum and provide at least four hours of instruction per day for 180 days each year. Church-related schools set their own program requirements.
• Testing: Testing in grades 5, 7, and 9 for registered independent homeschools.
• Records: Independent homeschool parents keep attendance records, permit inspection, and submit them at year end. Maintain grades, transcripts, student records, and copies of final diplomas; provide required test results to the recipients specified in the current testing rule.
• Teachers: An independent homeschool parent-teacher needs a high-school diploma or equivalent. Church-related umbrella schools set their own enrollment and parent requirements.

Tennessee also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.

• The Individualized Education Account pays a student with a qualifying disability and an active IEP the state and special-education funding for their district, including an independently homeschooled student. Most students must have spent the prior year in a Tennessee public school, and 2026-27 applications are closed.

Read the Tennessee homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Tennessee

Find benefits for your ZIP code