Get Ahead: CCP for Ohio Homeschool Students

On January 16, Cedarville University and Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO) answered top questions about Ohio’s College Credit Plus (CCP) program for homeschool students in a panel discussion. If you missed it, you can watch the panel here!

Host Sarah Gump was joined by Shellie Doub, Cedarville’s Director of Dual Enrollment Recruitment, and Melanie Elsey, CHEO’s legislative liaison. Read on to learn more about CCP and whether it could be the right fit for your student.

What are Dual Enrollment and College Credit Plus (CCP)?
Dual enrollment allows students to be enrolled in two school settings at once — high school and college. Dual enrollment courses count for both high school and college credit and are included on both transcripts.

College Credit Plus (CCP) is a funding program that allows eligible Ohio students to take dual enrollment classes from participating institutions for free!

How do I know if my student is ready for dual enrollment?
Like any college course, dual enrollment courses will permanently be on students’ college transcripts, and these courses are not adjusted for younger students. It's important to make sure your student has the emotional maturity and motivation to handle the academic rigor of college-level courses before they jump in!

Your student may be ready for dual enrollment courses if they have strong executive functioning skills like time management and independence, are emotionally and spiritually mature, and have the academic ability necessary to complete their coursework.

Is CCP really free?
Yes! Tuition is covered by the state of Ohio, and all other fees are waived by the college. However, textbooks must be provided by the homeschool family. Additionally, keep in mind that if your student withdraws or does not pass a class, you may be responsible for paying back the funding!

Why should my student participate in CCP?
CCP provides a great opportunity for your student to explore their interests and get a head start on their college path while still in high school. It can also ease the transition into college by familiarizing your student with the way college courses are set up. At Cedarville, you may save money if your student earns enough CCP credit to shorten their college completion time by a year or semester. Visit cedarville.edu/pathways for more information.

What are the eligibility requirements for CCP?
To be eligible for CCP, your student must be an Ohio resident enrolled in an Ohio private school, public school, or homeschool with a high school GPA of at least 3.0 and/or college-ready test scores. Keep in mind that college admission requirements may be more rigorous— your student must meet CCP-eligibility requirements, and they must be accepted into the participating college or university of their choice before applying for CCP funding.

What is the process for applying for CCP funding for my homeschool student?
To start, you will need to create an OH ID account so you can complete the electronic Intent to Participate form and apply for funding through the Ohio Department of Education.

You will need to provide your student’s college acceptance letter and your 2024–25 letter of exemption for home education. If this is not your student’s first time taking courses through CCP, then their college transcript and a letter of good standing from the institution can be provided instead of their letter of admission. Cedarville does not require students who have enrolled in classes to apply to the University annually.

Note that funding is not granted on a first come, first served basis. Every accepted student will receive funding, but the money is allocated in grade order with upperclassmen prioritized.

What happens once my student receives funding?
Once you know how much funding your student has received, choose courses carefully!

At Cedarville, dual enrollment advisors are available to meet with your student each semester to help them plan wisely and register. Your student should consider his or her interests and plans after high school graduation as well as the amount of time they have available for coursework. Plan for around 7–10 hours of homework per course per week.

Additionally, note that not all classes offered by the college can be paid for with CCP funds. At Cedarville University, the Bible minor courses and Intro to Humanities are not CCP-eligible, for example. Your student may still take these courses through dual enrollment, but you will be responsible for all expenses.

Specific registration processes will vary according to your institution. Make sure your student meets all deadlines and any prerequisite requirements for the courses they plan to register for!

For more information about how Cedarville seeks to serve homeschool families, visit cedarville.edu/homeschool.

To learn more about Christian Home Educators of Ohio, visit cheohome.org.