Two flagship early-college programs compared — plus admissions and scholarship wisdom.
Starting grade
GPA
No ACT requirements.
Cost
in-state tuition per semester hour; $355 out-of-state.
About 80% of students are in the online course. You can take 1–3 classes; no more than 30 hours. They prefer cover transcripts.
Contact: Kaylee Knight · earlycollege@ua.edu · 205-348-7083
Starting grade
GPA
ACT 22 or SAT equivalent.
Cost
per course (no per-hour charge) with a $250 non-refundable deposit.
The Auburn First tuition waiver is available to Alabama residents who qualify for free or reduced lunch. It waives eligible students' tuition for up to 24 credit hours of Auburn First coursework. Verify through their own process.
Auburn First Tuition Waiver Eligibility Packet (2024-25)
Contact: Cary Curtiss · aufirst@auburn.edu · 334-844-2529
If the information you’re hearing sounds odd or inconsistent with what’s outlined here, don’t hesitate to call back and speak to someone else! Use online chat features, email, or any other routes to reach a different representative. Sometimes, not everyone in the admissions office fully understands the early enrollment process, and you may need to find the right person who does.
The same advice applies to regular enrollment—make sure you’re speaking with someone who has successfully processed a homeschool student through admissions. Remember, you don’t need to have followed an “accredited curriculum,” but some admissions staff may mistakenly ask about it. Stand your ground and clarify your homeschool program.
Every college I contacted had nothing but positive things to say about homeschool students. Many praised our communities and kids, with no hesitation about admitting them!
Scholarships often require preparation before your senior year, so start early! A counselor’s tip: review the scholarships you want to apply for, and mark deadlines on your calendar to stay organized. Your senior year will be busy, and this will save you stress.
Here are two excellent sites to explore scholarships:
Planning ahead will give your homeschooler the best shot at securing funding for their future.
