Homeschoolers are academically prepared to attend college after graduation. But, there are other challenges in a new environment. The specifics may vary based on the needs and goals of the student.
College preparation starts in high school!
Here are 30 signs on the path to college for homeschool students.
Due to legislative accomplishments over the past 20 years, such as SB 1543 (2015), HB 3993 (2023), and HB 3041 (2025), Texas state law now categorically prohibits discrimination against homeschoolers in the admissions process at state institutions, requiring that graduation from a homeschool must be considered “equivalent to graduation from a public high school” and that homeschool graduates must be treated “according to the same general standards” as public school graduates (Texas Education Code § 51.9241(b)). The law further guarantees that homeschooled applicants will have full and equitable access to automatic admission under the mandatory Top 10% Rule (Texas Education Code § 51.803(a)(1)(B)). Texas homeschool graduates now have more opportunities available than ever before!
Careful documentation of academic experience, community involvement, leadership opportunities and extracurricular activities can help your homeschool student in the college admissions process.
Choosing a Major
Deciding on a major can be difficult. This Career Finder tool makes it easy to explore careers and find the best colleges to prepare you for that career. Students can discover top careers based on their academic major and college, or find the fastest-growing careers in their state. The tool includes tons of up-to-date info including the number of job openings, typical salaries, and the education level or skills required to get started.
Commonly Used Admissions Requirements
- Completed College Application
- Application Fees
- High School Transcript
- CLT/SAT/ACT Scores
- If applying at a community college, scores from placement exams such as Compass, THEA and ACCUPLACER.
Notarizing Transcripts of Homeschool Students
Prospective students are typically required to submit an original copy of their high school transcripts when applying for admission to a higher level education institution. Occasionally, upon enrolling in classes at a university, community college or trade school, a homeschool graduate will be asked to provide a notarized, original transcript.
In order to obtain this, the student’s parent(s) must sign the transcript in the presence of a notary public who will then notarize the signature.
The TEA says: “The TEA does not regulate, index, monitor, approve, register, or accredit the programs available to parents who choose to homeschool.”
The TEA has verified by phone that they do not regulate or monitor the diplomas from Texas homeschools or any other non-accredited private schools. Most original diplomas are now transferred electronically or directly from high schools to colleges or companies, and students are not supposed to handle official diplomas.
The TEA does not require public school students to get their transcripts notarized, and homeschool students are no exception.
Some colleges, universities or tech schools may request a notarized transcript. (Other colleges might require a homeschool affidavit that homeschool students must request from the school, complete and return.) Even though notarizing your homeschool transcript or diploma is not required by the state, it is a way to certify now and for future needs that you (the parent) officially prepared your student’s school records.
To have records notarized, simply take your student’s document to a notary public and sign the transcript or diploma in the notary’s presence.
For notarized copies of the original transcript, there must be a note on the copy somewhere saying that it is an exact copy of the original, and the notary witness that exact copy being signed.
Verify with the college, university or technical school whether they require an original transcript or if they will accept a digital copy of the notarized copy of the original transcript, as some will not.
Dual Credit Methods
Dual credit is when a student earns high school and college credit for the same course.
Your student can earn dual credit by one of the following three methods, or by combining all these methods:
- Dual credit courses through a public community college, a public university, or a private college/university;
- Advanced Placement courses; or
- Credit-by-exam by completing a CLEP test.
In Texas, state law requires that homeschool students must have equal access to dual credit courses at public colleges and universities.
Homeschoolers are academically prepared to attend college after graduation. But, there are other challenges in a new environment. The specifics may vary based on the needs and goals of the student.
College preparation starts in high school!
Here are 30 signs on the path to college for homeschool students.
Due to legislative accomplishments over the past 20 years, such as SB 1543 (2015), HB 3993 (2023), and HB 3041 (2025), Texas state law now categorically prohibits discrimination against homeschoolers in the admissions process at state institutions, requiring that graduation from a homeschool must be considered “equivalent to graduation from a public high school” and that homeschool graduates must be treated “according to the same general standards” as public school graduates (Texas Education Code § 51.9241(b)). The law further guarantees that homeschooled applicants will have full and equitable access to automatic admission under the mandatory Top 10% Rule (Texas Education Code § 51.803(a)(1)(B)). Texas homeschool graduates now have more opportunities available than ever before!
Careful documentation of academic experience, community involvement, leadership opportunities and extracurricular activities can help your homeschool student in the college admissions process.
Choosing a Major
Deciding on a major can be difficult. This Career Finder tool makes it easy to explore careers and find the best colleges to prepare you for that career. Students can discover top careers based on their academic major and college, or find the fastest-growing careers in their state. The tool includes tons of up-to-date info including the number of job openings, typical salaries, and the education level or skills required to get started.
Commonly Used Admissions Requirements
- Completed College Application
- Application Fees
- High School Transcript
- CLT/SAT/ACT Scores
- If applying at a community college, scores from placement exams such as Compass, THEA and ACCUPLACER.
Notarizing Transcripts of Homeschool Students
Prospective students are typically required to submit an original copy of their high school transcripts when applying for admission to a higher level education institution. Occasionally, upon enrolling in classes at a university, community college or trade school, a homeschool graduate will be asked to provide a notarized, original transcript.
In order to obtain this, the student’s parent(s) must sign the transcript in the presence of a notary public who will then notarize the signature.
The TEA says: “The TEA does not regulate, index, monitor, approve, register, or accredit the programs available to parents who choose to homeschool.”
The TEA has verified by phone that they do not regulate or monitor the diplomas from Texas homeschools or any other non-accredited private schools. Most original diplomas are now transferred electronically or directly from high schools to colleges or companies, and students are not supposed to handle official diplomas.
The TEA does not require public school students to get their transcripts notarized, and homeschool students are no exception.
Some colleges, universities or tech schools may request a notarized transcript. (Other colleges might require a homeschool affidavit that homeschool students must request from the school, complete and return.) Even though notarizing your homeschool transcript or diploma is not required by the state, it is a way to certify now and for future needs that you (the parent) officially prepared your student’s school records.
To have records notarized, simply take your student’s document to a notary public and sign the transcript or diploma in the notary’s presence.
For notarized copies of the original transcript, there must be a note on the copy somewhere saying that it is an exact copy of the original, and the notary witness that exact copy being signed.
Verify with the college, university or technical school whether they require an original transcript or if they will accept a digital copy of the notarized copy of the original transcript, as some will not.
Dual Credit Methods
Dual credit is when a student earns high school and college credit for the same course.
Your student can earn dual credit by one of the following three methods, or by combining all these methods:
- Dual credit courses through a public community college, a public university, or a private college/university;
- Advanced Placement courses; or
- Credit-by-exam by completing a CLEP test.
In Texas, state law requires that homeschool students must have equal access to dual credit courses at public colleges and universities.
