October 28, 2025 by

Hi there! My name is Audrey Ziemke, a current freshman at Cedarville. As a proud homeschool grad, this topic is dear to my heart, and I’m excited you stopped by to read about my transition from home education to college! 

There’s nothing quite like completing your math assignment at home, at your own pace, and with noisy siblings in the background.  

In fact, homeschooling has been one of the greatest blessings in my life, and I hope that all homeschoolers get to have as wonderful of an experience as I did. 

However, if you’re a homeschooler, you know how it feels to be different and do things the uncommon way. You’ll understand the feeling of forging a path through the weeds instead of plodding along the beaten road. When it comes to college, that path through the weeds can sometimes feel like it leads right off a cliff. 

Can Homeschoolers Go to College?  

Someone recently asked me if homeschoolers could even go to college. 

Cue the internal groan. 

OK, maybe the audible groan. 

First of all, yes. But did you know that homeschoolers have an 87% college acceptance rate, which is 19% higher than traditionally schooled students? 

Colleges love to see the challenging academics, diverse activities, and yes, robust social skills that decorate homeschooler applications. 

So, if colleges like homeschoolers, what’s so great about Cedarville? 

I’m so glad you asked. 

How to Apply to College as a Homeschooler 

I had heard of Cedarville University through Answers in Genesis and their long connection to the school. Before college was on my radar, Cedarville was. 

As I tested the waters of higher education, Dual Enrollment courses from Cedarville offered me my first taste of a university completely for Jesus. Before I knew it, I was knee-deep in the application process. 

I found that Cedarville accepts the CLT, a college entrance exam tailored for classically educated students, which made it easier for me to take a test I felt comfortable with and still apply to a prestigious school. 

I was given an amazing admissions counselor, who went out of her way to make sure I felt comfortable with each step, and she provided me with both practical advice and spiritual encouragement. Since homeschoolers typically do not have a high school counselor to guide them through the fog of forms, deadlines, and transcripts, Cedarville goes above and beyond to assist these students throughout the bewildering process.  

Whether it is a well-timed reminder email or a detailed, step-by-step guide to planning a visit, the Cedarville admissions staff ensures that each potential student receives what they need to make their transition seamless. 

Since I also applied to other universities, Cedarville’s commitment to making things easy for me stood out. When other schools gave me automatically generated emails or phone lines that always experienced a “high volume of calls,” Cedarville delivered on their promise, and gave me the tailored support I desperately needed. 

I was caught, hook, line and sinker, and further curious research showed me exactly how homeschool-friendly Cedarville is. 

Is Cedarville Homeschool- Friendly?  

Would you like to know what I found out? 

Dr. White, the president of Cedarville University, homeschools his children. 

Not to mention the dozens of faculty members who school their own children at home or were homeschool grads themselves. 

Homeschooling Parent Magazine named CU a “Certified Homeschool Friendly” school, and Cedarville makes appearances at numerous homeschool conventions across the country. Cedarville also hosts special events targeted at homeschooled students, ranging from athletic events, worship weekends, and academic camps. 

Still not convinced? Over 25 percent of students here at Cedarville are homeschool grads, and the number only goes up every year. Walk onto campus, ask a few students about their high school life, and chances are, they won’t mention speech club or prom…but maybe doing science experiments in the kitchen will pop up in the conversation. 

From Homeschooled to College Life   

So, here you are, on your way to becoming a Yellow Jacket. You’ve visited, enrolled, and maybe even bought a few Cedarville T-shirts. Well, alright, more than a few. 

But maybe amidst the excitement and the new experiences, a little nagging doubt eats away at you in the back of your mind. 

Will I be able to adjust to college life since it is all so different from being homeschooled? 

The answer is yes, one hundred times over. 

You see, college life is all about time management, self-motivation, and rigorous academics. These things form the basis of homeschooling, and chances are, you’ve been planning your schedule and being a self-starter since you were drinking out of sippy cups. 

And the opportunity to learn from many stellar professors, participate in full-class discussions, and attend packed, joyous chapels every day is a blessing that you’ll get used to in a matter of hours. 

Which Path Will You Take?  

At the end of the day, while Cedarville is incredibly homeschool-friendly, the best thing about pursing a higher education here is that every one of your 1000 days is spent drawing closer to Christ. In His light, all else pales, even an untraditional schooling. Cedarville will welcome you with open arms and encourage you every step of the way by the incredible staff, caring faculty, and the warmhearted students. 

So, remember that path through the weeds? Maybe, for you, like it was for me, that path ends up here at Cedarville. 

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