UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State Homeschool Admissions Requirements

Each New Hampshire public university has its own process for homeschool applicants. UNH handles it differently from Keene State, which handles it differently from Plymouth State. Getting the wrong information — or applying with the wrong documents — wastes time and can delay your student's application review.

This guide covers the specific requirements for each NH public institution: what documents they want, what they do not require, and what makes a homeschool application competitive at each school.

University of New Hampshire (UNH)

UNH is test-optional for all applicants, and this applies to homeschooled students as well. You are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, though UNH encourages their submission to help admissions officers understand the academic context of a home education program.

What UNH requires from homeschool applicants:

• A high school diploma or documented equivalent. For NH homeschoolers, this means your parent-issued diploma accompanied by a self-certification letter stating that the student completed a secondary education program under RSA 193-A.
• A homeschool transcript listing courses, credits, and grades. UNH admissions staff review these routinely and understand that parent-issued transcripts are the norm in NH.
• A school counselor report or equivalent documentation. Since homeschoolers do not have a counselor, UNH accepts a parent-written summary covering the home education program's structure, the student's academic strengths and challenges, and any extracurricular or community involvement. This substitutes for the counselor recommendation.
• Two letters of recommendation from non-family members (teachers, tutors, employers, coaches, or community mentors).
• A personal essay via the Common Application.

What UNH does NOT require:

UNH does not require accreditation, does not require AP or dual enrollment coursework (though they strengthen the application), and does not require that transcripts mirror a traditional school format. A well-organized parent-created transcript is sufficient.

What makes a UNH homeschool application competitive:

UNH admissions committees are looking for academic rigor alongside the transcript. If your student has taken dual enrollment courses through CCSNH, VLACS, or another accredited institution, those third-party grades provide independent verification of academic ability. Writing samples submitted with the application also carry significant weight for UNH — a strong analytical essay from junior-year work demonstrates skills that a GPA alone cannot convey. If your student did not submit SAT/ACT scores, supporting materials like graded writing samples, AP exam scores, or portfolio work help fill that context gap.

Keene State College

Keene State is test-blind — SAT and ACT scores are neither required nor considered in admission decisions. For homeschool applicants, this removes one common source of anxiety entirely.

What Keene State requires from homeschool applicants:

• The Common Application.
• A parent-created transcript listing all coursework with brief course descriptions. Keene State specifically asks for descriptions alongside the course titles — a bare list of course names is insufficient.
• A letter from the parent or guardian as the home educator, explaining the educational approach, curriculum used, and how the student was assessed.
• One academic letter of recommendation from a non-family member (tutor, co-op instructor, community college professor, or similar).

Course descriptions matter at Keene State. The admissions office uses them to evaluate the academic level of coursework when there are no AP scores or class rank to reference. A course titled "Literature" tells them little; a course description that says the student read primary texts from Austen, Dickens, and Hardy, wrote five analytical essays, and completed a comparative research paper tells them the course was genuinely challenging.

What Keene State does NOT require:

No standardized test scores. No accreditation. No school code.

What makes a Keene State homeschool application competitive:

Strong course descriptions, evidence of community engagement or extracurricular involvement, and a coherent narrative in the parent letter explaining why home education was chosen and how it supported the student's development. Keene State serves a population that includes many first-generation college students and non-traditional applicants; the admissions culture is accustomed to evaluating unconventional paths.

Plymouth State University

Plymouth State has some of the most specific homeschool admissions requirements among NH public universities.

What Plymouth State requires from homeschool applicants:

• The Common Application.
• A parent-signed transcript outlining academic studies. Plymouth State specifically uses the phrase "parent-signed" — your signature as the home education program administrator must appear on the document.
• Supporting materials illustrating academic ability: reading lists, course syllabi, writing samples, or a portfolio of student work. Plymouth State accepts any combination of these.
• A letter of recommendation from a non-family member. This is non-negotiable at Plymouth State — a family member cannot write this letter. Acceptable recommenders include tutors, employers, coaches, religious leaders, community mentors, or co-op instructors.

What Plymouth State does NOT require:

No standardized test scores. No accreditation.

What makes a Plymouth State homeschool application competitive:

Plymouth State looks for evidence that the student can succeed in a structured academic environment. The most effective supporting materials are writing samples (ideally formal essays, not informal writing), documentation of any dual enrollment or co-op coursework, and a recommendation letter that speaks to the student's work ethic and ability to receive feedback. If the student has any extracurricular involvement — sports, arts, community service — document it clearly.

Granite State College (Now Part of USNH)

Granite State College merged into the University System of New Hampshire as an online-focused institution. It serves primarily adult learners and working students. For homeschool applicants, the admissions process is straightforward.

What Granite State requires:

• Evidence of high school completion. This can be a parent-issued diploma with a self-certification letter, or a GED. For traditional NH homeschoolers completing under RSA 193-A, the self-certification pathway is appropriate.
• A homeschool transcript is helpful but not always required — because Granite State places heavy weight on prior college credit and work experience for older applicants.

Granite State is typically pursued by homeschooled students who are older, already have some college credit (often from dual enrollment), or are returning adults. If your student completed dual enrollment coursework through CCSNH, those credits transfer directly to Granite State, often reducing the time and cost to a degree significantly.

Community College System of NH (CCSNH)

CCSNH includes NHTI (Concord), Manchester Community College, Nashua Community College, River Valley Community College, Lakes Region Community College, White Mountains Community College, and Great Bay Community College.

What CCSNH schools require from homeschool applicants:

• High school diploma or equivalent. Parent-issued diploma with self-certification letter is accepted at all CCSNH campuses.
• A homeschool transcript. CCSNH uses it for placement purposes (particularly for math and English placement) and to determine transfer credit eligibility if the student has completed dual enrollment coursework.
• Placement testing. Most CCSNH campuses require incoming students to complete placement assessments in English and math. Homeschool applicants are not exempt — these tests determine which courses you enroll in, not whether you are admitted.

CCSNH is often the right starting point for NH homeschoolers. The admissions requirements are accessible, the cost is significantly lower than four-year universities, and dual enrollment credits earned while in high school transfer directly. A student who completed two or three dual enrollment courses at NHTI while homeschooling can enter as a continuing student with substantial credits already completed.

What Documents to Prepare Before Any Application

Regardless of which NH institution your student is applying to, having these documents ready before submitting any application prevents delays:

1. Parent-signed homeschool transcript — courses by year, credits, grades, GPA calculation, and your signature with date
2. Course descriptions — a paragraph for each course (especially relevant for Keene State and Plymouth State)
3. Self-certification of secondary school completion letter — signed statement under RSA 193-A
4. Notification of Completion acknowledgment — proof the home education program was formally concluded (Ed 315.16)
5. Letters of recommendation from non-family members — one or two, depending on the institution
6. Any dual enrollment transcripts — official transcripts from CCSNH or VLACS if applicable

If you built your documentation throughout high school using NH-compliant templates, assembling this package takes hours, not weeks. The New Hampshire Portfolio & Assessment Templates includes the transcript template, course description framework, and self-certification letter format structured around these exact requirements.

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