Homeschoolers Have a Unique Advantage When It Comes to Winning Scholarships

One of the most common questions people ask me is, “Which scholarships can my homeschool student apply for?”

I’m happy to report that the answer to that question is that nearly every scholarship open to public or private school students is also open to homeschool students. I can’t think of a single scholarship that expressly excludes homeschooled students (although I’m sure they do exist). In short, if the student meets the eligibility requirements for a scholarship, homeschoolers should also assume that they are eligible.

Homeschoolers have a unique advantage when it comes to scholarships, a strategic edge that public and private school students don’t have. They can seamlessly integrate scholarships into their curriculum. Let me explain. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) oJers a scholarship called “Voice of Democracy,” open to all high school students, including homeschooled students. The theme changes yearly, but it’s always related to civics or history. Homeschoolers can incorporate the scholarship into their curriculum, using it as a tool to learn about these subjects while they craft their essay for the scholarship. Moreover, because the scholarship requires an essay, the scholarship entry can also be used as part of the language arts curriculum. And, because the student must record themselves reciting their essay, this scholarship can also be used as part of a speech and oration curriculum. This strategic approach allows homeschoolers to apply for more scholarships in less time than their public and private counterparts, who usually must complete school assignments before working separately on scholarships. These opportunities are not limited to high school-aged students. There are scholarships for middle school and elementary school-aged students, as well. This resourcefulness is a key advantage for homeschool students in the scholarship journey.

During my years as a Scholarship Coach, I have found one way in which homeschooled students are (sometimes) at a disadvantage when it comes to scholarships, and that revolves around third-party “validation.” This term refers to the credibility and impartiality that a recommendation or an extracurricular activity from a third-party educator or organization can provide. While some scholarships are won based solely on a student’s essay or a project, many scholarships require letters of recommendation as part of the application package. If mom or dad is the student’s teacher, as is often the case for homeschooled students, a teacher’s letter of recommendation from mom or dad doesn’t hold as much weight as a letter from a third-party educator. One way to compensate for this is to involve homeschooled students in some level of third-party education. I’m a big fan of dual-enrollment programs, where students earn college credit while in high school. Not only can this reduce the number of courses a student will later have to take in college, but those dual-enrollment professors can be a tremendous third-party source for letters of recommendation for scholarships.

Many scholarships look at more than just a student’s academic record. Some scholarships also consider extracurriculars, volunteering, leadership, and work experience. Of course, many homeschool students are involved in activities. However, I have found that some homeschool students struggle to find meaningful extracurriculars because they don’t usually have access to as many after-school clubs and sports as their public and private school peers. Organized extracurriculars provide opportunities for homeschool students to “level the playing field” with their public and private school competitors. The key is “organized.” To use a sports example, a student might be a fantastic baseball player, but if he’s only competing in the church rec league, his resume isn’t as impressive as the student on the high school varsity baseball team. But that same student can “level up” by playing for a local Babe Ruth League team. The same logic of “third-party validation” that applies to teacher letters of recommendation also applies to the extracurriculars that a student participates in.

Whether a homeschooled student plans on attending college, trade, or technical school or jumping into the workforce, there are scholarships for everyone. The scholarship landscape is not limited to a particular path; it’s a hopeful and optimistic field that caters to all aspirations. While many scholarships are geared toward college-bound students, plenty are specifically for trade and technical schools. Some scholarships even send a check directly to the winner, with no stipulation that the funds be used for educational purposes! So, even if your homeschooler doesn’t have college plans, scholarships can still provide a potentially lucrative “side hustle” for your student. Of course, take the time to learn about each scholarship before applying if those considerations are relevant to your student. As I like to say, “Scholarships are for everyone!” including homeschooled students.

BIO: Dave Peterson, aka Dave The Scholarship Coach, is the father of a recent college graduate who earned nearly $100,000 in scholarships, allowing him to earn a debt-free college degree. As the founder of Scholarship GPS, Dave works with students and their families to help them on their scholarship journeys. More than half of the students in Dave’s Class of 2025 Scholarship Coaching program are homeschooled students.