Can Homeschoolers Get Into College? What Every Parent Should Know

February 22, 2026 Christopher Chartier

From the documents, courses, credits, and standardized test scores, parents tend to wonder what is good enough to be accepted into major universities?

Rest and relax parents. Universities LOVE to accept homeschool students!

According to Harvard’s admission’s website, “each applicant to Harvard College is considered with great care and homeschooled applicants are treated the same as all other applicants.”

The Data: Homeschool vs Public School

74% of homeschool students pursue college, 87% of them are accepted, and 67% of them graduate. In contrast 44% of public school students apply for college, 68% get accepted, and 59% graduate.

These numbers paint a clear picture - homeschool students are 30% more likely to pursue higher education, 19% more likely to be accepted by a university, and 8% more likely to graduate.

Not only do they value higher education, they are better prepared for it. How?

SAT and ACT exam scores

These college-entry exams are the benchmark for evaluating whether a student is prepared for the demands of higher education. For reference a perfect score on the SAT is 1600 and on the ACT is a 36.

Research has shown that homeschool students consistently average higher scoring marks than public school students, 1190 to 1060.

💡 TIP: Study the content, question type, and rigor of these exams and find courses that align with them. Also, supplement with SAT prep courses and practice SAT exams (PSAT).

Transcripts: What Colleges Actually Look For

Transcripts are like an educational resume of all the classes you took during your high school career. It includes the course name, the grade and credits you earned. Additional information such as class content or rigor can be included as well.

Public schools have a graduation track for their students that require specific core classes to be taken, and a specific number of them as well. For example, in the school district I worked in students were required to take three science courses and one had to be biology.

These are called core classes and colleges expect them on transcripts. I suggest reaching out to your local school district and asking for their graduation track. Mimic their track to your preference, especially the core classes.

💡 TIP: Hire a professional to put your transcript together for you because how it looks carries weight with college admission offices.

AP/Dual Enrollment Courses

These courses are already vetted by universities for their rigor and content, and in fact students can earn college credits when they pass them. AP exam scores can be compared nationally against students who took the same AP course.

When colleges see these courses on your transcripts it immediately signals to them that you can handle a rigorous academic workload.

💡 TIP: Find a mix of core classes and elective classes that you find interesting to take at the AP level. These are not make-it or break-it type courses for college acceptance but they do strengthen your application.

Diversify Your Extra-Curricular Activities

A strong college application finds ways to make the student stand-out from the crowd. This is where you can set yourself apart in an exceptional way. Consider your passions, interests, ways to serve, and things that make you unique. Find clubs, volunteer opportunities, entrepreneurial projects, or a compelling interest to be a part of.

💡 TIP: Aim to have a diverse portfolio of extracurriculars and consider how you can highlight what makes you unique (in a way that shows what you can contribute to society). Colleges want to invest in students that they feel will offer value and make the most of their time on campus.

Choosing Curriculum That Prepares Students for College

When I created Designed By God Curriculum I wanted to offer parents academically rigorous courses that prepared students for college-entry exams while also revealing God in powerful ways that strengthened them in their personal faith.