College is expensive. So, how do homeschoolers maximize their chances of finding scholarships? Significant funds are available, offering a creative mix of ways to pay for college beyond taking out a giant loan. Strong courses, good grades, community service, and test scores are all factors in earning coveted local and college scholarships. Sports, letters of recommendation, and leadership in school and clubs also help.  But where do you find these funds? Let’s dive in.

Apply locally. In the fall of senior year, start looking for local scholarships by checking your town newspaper for listings or calling the nearest public high school. A good public high school counselor will announce monthly local scholarship opportunities from local organizations, businesses, charities, the National Merit Scholarship program, and the ROTC. Call them; get on their email list. These scholarships vary in size, but are plentiful. Winning local scholarships is an empowering achievement for homeschoolers who consider themselves part of their community, even if they are not enrolled in the local public or private school system.

In our homeschool, we required annual community service commitments from our kids, which paid off in more ways than we could count: helping others, fostering community involvement, strengthening friendships and building relationships, and earning letters of recommendation, among other benefits. However, it was also through community service that our students won multiple local scholarship awards.

Challenging curricula. The high school courses you choose matter. When colleges read your course descriptions, they might base a scholarship offer on the depth and breadth of high school classes taken. When deciding on your teen’s course load, it is essential to distinguish between what is required to graduate from high school and what is necessary for college applications. College admissions counselors know the difference, and you should, too.

Homeschoolers must do more than most to prove college readiness, but the extra effort also enhances opportunities for merit-based scholarships. It’s a win-win.

High Test Scores = Scholarship $

Test scores are tied to scholarship money. In many schools, the higher the test score, the higher the scholarship.

For obvious reasons, you should not leave these big tests to chance. Start thinking about a solid prep plan during Sophomore or Junior year, and commit to a schedule of specific SAT or ACT learning. For homeschoolers, this test-prep focus can be an unwelcome distraction from the years of organic learning they have been accustomed to. However, due to the flexibility inherent in homeschool curricula, test prep can become a half-credit class on its own, adding to an already impressive transcript.

SAT/ACT and AP test scores. Since a few points or more on these tests can be worth thousands of dollars in scholarship money, it is worth it to make a plan. Groups like RockStar Tutors, a boutique tutoring company based in Brooklyn, NY, offer strategic test prep and academic support in all subjects. Founded by Brown University graduate Andy Suzuki, RockStar Tutors was built upon the deep understanding of what makes an excellent tutor. High energy, personal attention, and a focus on accommodating each client’s unique needs make test prep worth the expense.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide the right academic support to our high schoolers as we help them find the right college/next steps. Good tutors can be pricey, but the resulting scholarships and school acceptances make it a worthwhile investment.

Read the fine print. Real money for athletic scholarships is available for recruited, high-level athletes; however, academic scholarships are more common. Although most are automatic, some additional scholarship opportunities might be available. So, read carefully through the websites of the colleges you are interested in (some examples are listed in the sources below). Students (not parents): Find your College Admissions Counselor on the school’s website, and email them about additional scholarship applications.

Merit Scholarships are usually awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, service, and talent.

FAFSA. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available every fall, typically in September. Parents should fill this out in September or October each year. FAFSA Financial Aid monies are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so submit your application early for the best possible award.

Professional Course Descriptions and Transcripts are the final and most impressive detail that gets a college’s attention. Clean, professional, and accurate academic proof demonstrates to colleges that your homeschool is legitimate, high-level, and produces exceptional students. My job is to help my clients build out these documents by suggesting courses, reading lists, and other opportunities to take advantage of during high school, tailored to each student’s needs and passions. My customized application packet includes a professionally designed, finished document for your homeschool records, featuring a Mission Statement, Transcripts (organized by year and/or subject), Course Descriptions, Reading Lists, travel/activity lists, and other relevant documents.

Pay attention to the right details along the way, and the opportunity for scholarships will appear. If your homeschooler is in high school or about to start high school, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I will be your partner in helping your student achieve their college dreams!

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Sources:

Gotimbalero Homeschool Coaching: lynnerey@gmail.com (email)

Rock Star Tutors: andy@rockstartutors.nyc (email)

USC Merit Scholarships: Merit scholarships at USC are highly competitive; however, last year, over 1,000 admitted students earned scholarships of $10,000 or more per year. https://admission.usc.edu/cost-and-financial-aid/scholarships/

University of RI Scholarships: https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/

University of Alabama Scholarships: https://afford.ua.edu/scholarships/in-state-freshman/#isadditional

FAFSA: https://www.usa.gov/financial-aid

ACT: https://www.act.org/

AP and SAT: https://www.collegeboard.org/

©2025 Lynne Rey
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