Homeschooled Students
Spring Arbor University welcomes applications from homeschooled students. Many new homeschooled students join our student body each year. Find out more about the admissions process for freshman applicants and transfer applicants.
Why SAU?
We understand that families choose to homeschool for many reasons, among which is often the desire to provide their children with a high quality, Christ-centered education. At SAU, we offer students the opportunity to continue that kind of education right on through college. Here, you will be challenged to think deeply about the unique person God has created you to be, the significant problems facing our contemporary world and how God wants to use you to make a difference. You’ll grow spiritually as well as intellectually, and you’ll be well prepared for whatever God’s has planned for you after college.
One of the things that makes SAU unique is the close-knit Christian community we share on campus. We are large enough to offer excellent academic programs and extracurricular activities but still small enough to be personal. At SAU, you will get to know your professors well, and you’ll develop lifelong friendships with faculty, staff and fellow students. To really understand what SAU is like, you’ll need to experience it in person! We invite you to schedule a campus visit soon.
Recommended High School Curriculum
The following high school courses are recommended for all freshman applicants, and they serve as a good guide for the development of your high school curriculum.
- Four years of college-preparatory English courses
- At least three years of mathematics courses, including geometry and algebra 1 and 2
- At least three social science or history courses (such as American history, world history, geography, psychology, government and economics)
- At least three lab science courses
Our students also find that having two years of a foreign language and a computer science course contributes to their success in college. Other supplemental courses could include biblical studies, fine arts and music and other courses in areas such as biblical worldview and apologetics.
High School Dual Enrollment
SAU offers high school students the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses during high school. Dual enrollment courses can be taken on our main campus or online. This can be a great way to complete high school requirements and begin to accumulate college credits at the same time. For more information, please visit our dual enrollment webpage or call the Office of Admissions at 800-968-0011.
Homeschool Student Applications
Homeschooled students may submit a transcript of high school coursework that has been produced by their parents. It should list subjects studied (with specific course titles) and should indicate the year in which each course was completed. SAU prefers that the transcript also list a grade for each course. If grades are not assigned, please use some other means to indicate the level of mastery the student achieved in each course. See a sample high school transcript.
To be considered official, homeschool transcripts must be hand-signed in ink by the parent acting as the school administrator. In place of the Official Transcript Request form for freshman applicants, a letter of recommendation should be submitted by the parent responsible for the majority of the applicant’s high school-level instruction. You should request that your SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores be sent directly to SAU by the appropriate testing service (we accept CLT scores of 66 and above).
We look forward to receiving your application for admission. May God bless you and guide you as you seek his direction regarding your college education. If he leads you to SAU, we look forward to welcoming you into our energetic, Christ-centered living and learning community!
Alternative Application Options
Traditional transcripts are preferred. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, homeschooling families may provide a narrative description of the applicant’s college preparatory work, including a description of subjects studied and an overall evaluation of the quality of work. To thoroughly evaluate applicants, SAU needs to know which subjects applicants have studied as well as when and to what extent they studied them. The use of alternative reporting methods may impact an applicant’s eligibility for scholarship aid. Official ACT and/or SAT scores are still required.