Growing number of homeschool students earning college credit through Trine

When Deidra Miller explored dual enrollment options for her son Ansel, she found Trine University’s program stood head and shoulders above the rest.

“Trine University's Dual Enrollment program was a great addition to our homeschool curriculum,” Miller said. “The director of Dual Enrollment was excellent to work with and made the process easy to understand. The price was unbeatable, and the coursework was high-quality. My students thrived in this experience.”

Miller is one of a growing number of homeschool parents whose students are earning college credits through Trine University’s Dual Enrollment program. Seventy-three homeschool students took dual enrollment courses at Trine during the last school year, earning 650 college credits.

Saving time, money

Kim Bennett, vice president for enrollment management at Trine, emphasized the financial and academic benefits of dual enrollment for homeschool students.

“Students can earn a full year or more of college credit, allowing them to graduate early or add a second major or additional minors,” Bennett said. “While we would love for students to continue their education at Trine, our credits transfer easily to Indiana public and most private institutions.”

‘Wonderful’ experience

Tiffany Silitonga said her daughter Caelin’s experience with Trine has been “wonderful.” Caelin has earned 24 credits at Trine as a homeschooler since 2023.

“The dedicated counselor who assists makes enrolling a breeze compared to other dual enrollment options, as well as being a more affordable option for classes,” she said. “The courses have been rigorous, but my student has been capable of completing them. I have had no problem with other universities accepting our credits from Trine as equivalent to their own. I find Trine University to be a great option for dual enrollment and even an alternative to co-op classes.”

Support for families

One key for homeschoolers, according to Samantha Fulton, director of dual enrollment, is making the dual enrollment process easy to navigate for parents and students.

“This may be a student’s first experience taking a course through an institution, meeting high school requirements, managing deadlines, or communicating with an instructor outside the home,” Fulton said. “Our dual enrollment team helps parents and students every step of the way, answering questions and guiding them through the process.”

Julie Rodgers, whose son Luke has earned 30 credits since 2023, said her family chose Trine for its affordability and wide range of course offerings.

“The staff has been very responsive and helpful as we navigate classes for our children,” she said. “We look forward to continuing with Trine for our next two children.”

Fulton said Trine’s dual enrollment program will continue to develop new ways to provide all families with an affordable, high-quality pathway to earning college credit.

“With dedicated support, rigorous coursework and seamless credit transfer, students are gaining a head start on their college journey while saving time and money,” she said. “As more homeschool families discover the benefits of Trine’s program, the university remains committed to helping them succeed in both their academic and career goals.”