Can Homeschoolers Go to College? Yes, and Here’s How:

“Can homeschoolers go to college?”

The short answer to this question is: yes. Homeschoolers can and do attend college every year.  While homeschoolers can attend any kind of college, private Christian colleges like Cairn University are usually a great fit for Christian homeschooled students who want their institution of higher education to boast the same values they learned to prioritize growing up. 

That being said, sometimes there are questions, concerns, or fears as a homeschooler as you think about going to college. While it’s easy to say there’s nothing to fear, we want also want to show you that that is the case.

Academic Performance

Homeschoolers are set up for success.

Academically, students educated at home perform just as well as, if not better than, their peers. The National Home Education Research Institute reports that in almost 80% of peer-reviewed studies conducted on the performance of homeschooled students contrasted with the performance of their school peers, the homeschooled students scored higher “in terms of academic achievement, social and emotional development, and success into adulthood (including at college/university).” As long as home-educated students are well-prepared and meeting state standards, there should be no reason to worry about homeschoolers’ academic performance in college.

Homeschooled students are also uniquely prepared for the college workload in a different way than those who attended a public or private school. They are accustomed to taking responsibility for their own education and self-motivation, which is paramount to succeeding in college. College is an adjustment for all students, even those who were educated in a traditional classroom setting. Homeschooled students can feel confident knowing that the independence, self-discipline, and adaptability they’ve developed will serve them well in college and beyond.

Social Performance

Homeschoolers fit right into college.

“How do you socialize?” is one of the most asked questions of homeschooled students of all ages. People often wonder how students who spend most of their time at home are able to build relationships with peers and get similar social experiences. Many homeschooled students, however, are already  given opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities like sports, music, theater, church programs, and volunteer opportunities. Despite the stereotypes, the flexibility of homeschooling opens up a world of options for homeschooled students to engage with all kinds of people, ultimately allowing them to engage and socialize with the world around them in a variety of ways. In fact, homeschoolers are often offered a diversity of experience that their traditionally-educated peers may not have.  

For homeschooled students residing in Pennsylvania, the state’s Department of Education requires public school districts to allow homeschooled students to participate in the programs offered by the district. These programs include sports, theater, and attending a local career and technical school during high school. The same rules for district extracurriculars apply to all students, whether educated at home or in the school building. 

The College Search

How do you find colleges as a homeschooled student?

As a homeschooler, you probably don’t have colleges visiting you at home. You may have mailings come to your door, but not a representative to answer your questions like at a public or private school. This can make finding colleges a different experience, but there are still plenty of options that homeschoolers rely on:

Ways to Find Colleges:

• • People: Talk to people you know who are in college, also looking at colleges, or recent graduates. Ask people at your church, extracurriculars, etc. about their past or current experiences in looking for and attending college.

• • Homeschool Groups or Conferences: Homeschool groups or conferences likely have connections to universities you may or may not have heard of; giving you contact with said schools, and opening up opportunities for deeper connection and more information.

• • The Internet: A simple online search can be a great help in finding colleges. You can narrow your search to exactly what you are looking for in a college. Interested in a specific major? Location? Ministry focus? A search engine can help you find school options that fit your specific interests and preferences. 

Is it harder for homeschoolers to get into college?

It’s just as simple for homeschoolers to get into college as it is for those who attend school institutions. Homeschoolers need consistent records of their education to ensure they are meeting state standards for home education. Some universities may have specific requirements for homeschooled students applying, so be sure to check out the apply section of the school’s website. 

Once you’ve found a college you might like to attend, start looking for more information! The college’s website is a great place to start. 

One opportunity colleges offer is a visit. A visit is a great way to get a feel for the campus and see if you could imagine yourself in that environment. Visits are also helpful opportunities to meet people who can tell you more information about the school and answer questions you may have. If you visit during the school year (as homeschooled flexibility may allow) you can even have the chance to meet current students and attend classes to really see if this school would be a good fit.  

If you are interested in learning more about Cairn University through a visit, check out cairn.edu/visit to schedule an in-person visit or go on a virtual tour.

Choosing a Major

One of the primary things to consider when looking at colleges is what you might be interested in studying. It is absolutely okay to not have a particular major selected when you enter college. Students can enter college as undecided or undeclared. Many students end up switching their majors during their college careers. High school students with a clear idea of what they might like to do after college still have the potential to change their major. 

Although you may not know exactly what you want to do after you graduate from college, it’s helpful to have a general idea while recognizing that direction can change. College provides an opportunity to try a variety of things and discover or deepen interests. 

Things to Consider:

• • How has God gifted me? Ask people who know you well about what they see as your particular giftings and strengths. You want to select a major that will both match what you are gifted in and offer training in areas that require growth.

• • What are my goals? Consider what you want your life to look like years from now. These goals could be professional or personal. Choose a school that is dedicated to equipping you to accomplish your goals. 

• • What do I already enjoy doing? You may like writing, teaching, entrepreneurship, missions, or something else. Look for majors that focus on or incorporate things that interest you. 

• • Do I know someone working in this field? Talk to that person and, if possible, shadow them to get an idea of what is involved in day-to-day life if you choose that career path.