No one seems to know exactly how many students are homeschooled in the United States, but the number are showing a sharp increase. Estimates ten years ago were assumed to be around 850,000, while today homeschool statistics indicate there may be between 1 million to 2 million homeschooled students. A recent study estimates that the number of homeschooled students who go on to pursue a higher education is the same as that of non-homeschooled students, approximately 50%. However, because homeschooled students now make up a considerable potions of college applicants, they are considered the first generation of home based learners who will enter higher education programs.

Colleges and universities now receive an increased number of homeschooled applications, and may need to modify admission requirements as a result. Many have created new protocols for the fair review of homeschooled student’s credentials. However, some believe that homeschooled students are more likely to be accepted than public school children. Traditionally, they tend to have higher test scores and more extra-curricular activities.

Also, with the growing number of homeschoolers who are in pursuit of a post secondary education, many school authorities are concerning themselves with questions about whether or not these kids will be prepared for college and how they will fare. While homeschooled students score higher than the national average on ACT and SAT academic assessment tests, a 1995 study by Galloway concludes that homeschooled students and traditionally educated students demonstrate similar academic preparedness for college. In addition, current evidence indicates that there is also no significant difference between the two groups in terms of academic performance during college. Overall, students from both settings receive equivalent preparation for higher education.