Homeschool Connections partners with colleges and universities for College Credit Courses
In an effort to offer your high schoolers an opportunity to earn college credit, Homeschool Connections has partnered with Franciscan University of Steubenville and Benedictine College to make this into a reality this school year and beyond.
Click on the questions below to learn more about each of these opportunities.
Upcoming Open House
To learn more about our partnerships with each of these excellent institutions, please join us for an upcoming open house. Bring your questions and we will bring the answers!
What is the Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS) Advantage High School Partnership Program?
The Franciscan Advantage High School Partnership Program is a a network of traditional and online education institutions which are approved to teach a specific course(s) so students can earn college credit. Each institution uses their instructors to prepare their students for the midterm and final exams which FUS administers.
NOTE: The Partnership Program is distinct from the FUS Dual Enrollment Program. You can learn more about the differences here.
Which students are eligible to participate in the program?
Students who meet the below requirements are eligible to participate in the Franciscan Advantage High School Partnership Program:
- Students must be 16 years old by the date of the course final exam. Parents should
confirm this date with FUS. - Students must be a high school junior or senior.
- Students must possess a cumulative 2.4 GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
Will Homeschool Connections or FUS instructors teach the course for dual enrollment?
Homeschool Connections Instructors teach the courses. Students will be responsible for the work assigned by the HSC Instructor AND the midterm and final exam issued by FUS. The FUS exams must be taken through the FUS portal. Students will be granted access to the portal at the beginning of the course.
What is the expected workload for the course?
The courses are taught according to the schedule found in the course catalog. The HSC instructor will assign the usual workload for every student. Additionally, for students seeking college credit, they will be responsible for taking the midterm exam and final exam in their FUS Student Portal. Access to the student portal is granted at the beginning of the course.
NOTE: This is a college-level course. The work load will be heavier than a junior or senior level high school course.
How will student learning be evaluated by FUS?
Franciscan University faculty will create a mid-term exam and final exam. This exam will be administered on the student portal using their own computer using a lockdown browser. In order to take the exam, the student will need a computer (laptop or desktop), not a chromebook or iPad.
These exams are separate and distinct and in addition to any exams the HSC instructor requires students to take in his/her course. The student must complete the FUS mid-term and final exams to receive college credit.
How does my student earn college credit with FUS?
While Homeschool Connections Instructors teach the course, in order to receive college credit your student will need to take the mid-term exam and final exam administered by FUS through the Student Portal.
How many credits may my student earn?
The FUS Advantage High School Partnership Program allows students to earn up to 29 credit hours. The student is not allowed to take more than 5 courses per year.
What is the cost?
In addition to the normal cost of the Homeschool Connections course, Franciscan Advantage course tuition is $150 per credit ($450 for 3-credit) for the 2026-2027 academic year. This will be billed directly by Franciscan University.
If you are unsure about whether your student is prepared for college-level work, Franciscan University offers a 100% refund before 21 January (i.e. after the mid-term exam). If you drop during this refund period, there is no penalty and no transcript record.
Once you have enrolled in Franciscan Advantage, you will receive a paper bill in the mail directly from Franciscan University. You will then be able to pay for the credits.
If I choose not to apply my credit hours towards FUS, can I transfer them to another college or university?
Credits earned are immediately applied to Franciscan University. In most cases, credits earned at Franciscan are transferable to other colleges and universities. Each college or university has its own policies regarding transferability of credits so please check with the receiving college or university.
What are the timelines for enrollment and completion of courses?
- Priority course registration must be completed NO LATER than September 1, 2025.
- All Franciscan coursework must be completed by May 31, 2026.
What other benefits are available for the students?
- High school students enrolled in the Franciscan Advantage Program can also take part in Franciscan’s unique Franciscan Life Online. This provides opportunities for community and faith formation through virtual events such as small group meetings, weekly Rosary, and livestreamed lectures.
What courses are available during the 2026-27 school year?
- College Prep Physics, Parts One & Two, with Tom Frederick (FUS PHY 111, 3 credits)
- Epic and the Person, Parts One & Two, with Henry Russell (FUS ENG 210, 3 credits)
- Chemistry with Lab, Parts One & Two, with Kathy Dutton (FUS CHM 110/115, 4 credits)
- Philosophy of the Human Person, Parts One & Two, with Sam Nicholson (FUS PHL 113, 3 credits)
- History of the United States, Parts One & Two with Christopher Martin (HST 207 & 208, 6 credits– taught at college pace. Students must take both semesters to gain credit.)
- Foundations of Catholicism with Holly Vaughan (THE 101, 3 credits)
- Christian Moral Principles with Holly Vaughan (THE 115, 3 credits)
- Henle Latin: Third Year, Parts One & Two with Debbie Gaudino (LAT 104, 3 credits)
How do I get started enrolling my student in the FUS High School Partnership Program?
We have created this file to provide you with the process to follow to enroll your student in the FUS High School Partnership Program.
Who can I contact at Franciscan University if I have additional questions?
Thomas J. Costello Sr. is the program manager for the Franciscan Advantage Program. His email is tjcostello@franciscan.edu. His office phone number is 740-283-6230. His cell phone number is 973-459-0863.
What is the partnership with Homeschool Connections and Benedictine College?
Beginning in September 2024, an agreement between Benedictine College and Homeschool Connections allows qualified Homeschool Connections juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn Benedictine College credits for specially identified courses. Homeschool Connections students enroll concurrently in both the Homeschool Connections course and the Benedictine College course.
This arrangement allows the student enrolled with Homeschool Connections to take a course approved by Benedictine College for college credit. Essentially, the course is the equivalent of taking the course at Benedictine College at a much reduced rate.
What does the experience of taking an Advanced College Credit course through Homeschool Connections and Benedictine College look like?
The course will be a combination of live, online class time, engaging activities, college-level reading and workload.
The course content will be comparable to a Benedictine College introductory class (1000 level courses only).
Will Homeschool Connections or Benedictine College instructors teach the course for dual enrollment?
Your Homeschool Connections instructor will teach your student. Our instructors have been approved by Benedictine College.
Who is eligible to take an Advanced College Credit course?
High school juniors and seniors with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA who are at least 15 years of age at the beginning of the course can get a jump start on their college degree while earning high school credit through the Homeschool Connections Advanced College Credit partnership with Benedictine College.
Students do not need to apply to Benedictine College to earn a college credit while with HSC. You will register for the Advanced College Credit course when you register for the Homeschool Connections credit. (Note: this means you will need to complete two separate enrollment processes, one for HSC and one for Benedictine College.)
Will I get a refund if I decide not to receive Benedictine College credit?
To receive a refund, it depends on when you withdraw your enrollment from Benedictine. If you withdraw up until the day before the third class session, you will receive a 100% refund from Benedictine. Please note this policy is separate from Homeschool Connections Refund Policy.
If I choose not to apply my credit hours towards Benedictine College, can I transfer them to another college or university?
Yes, you may transfer credits to other colleges and universities. Due to the introductory nature of the course, the credits will likely transfer to many colleges and universities. However, we strongly suggest you verify with the destination college or university.
To order an official transcript(s), login to the National Student Clearinghouse at www.getmytranscript.com. The site will walk you through placing your order, including delivery options and fees. You will need your Benedictine College Student ID number to request your transcript.
Your ID number will be provided by Homeschool Connections after your registration is completed with Benedictine College. Be sure to keep this number safe! Note: Unofficial transcripts are not provided.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Academic Records at 913.360.7550.
What grade do I have to receive to earn the credit?
College credit will be granted for grades of ‘C’ or better. For grades lower than ‘C’, students will be given a mark of no credit, ‘NC.’
How do I know which Homeschool Connections courses are offered for Advanced College Credit?
All courses that are eligible for Advanced College Credit will be designated in the Homeschool Connections course description.
What courses are available during the 2026-27 school year?
For 2026-27, there are two courses available for college credit through Benedictine College:
- General Psychology, Part One and Two with Kristi Moore (PSYC-1000, 3 credits)
- British Literature from 1750 with Eleanor Nicholson (ENGL 1650, 3 credits)
How do I get started enrolling my student in the Benedictine College Dual Enrollment Program?
We have created this file to provide you with the process to follow to enroll your student in the Benedictine College Dual Enrollment Program.