Volunteer hours are unpaid service given to nonprofits or the community. They help show student engagement beyond academics.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. Studies show that homeschooled students are accepted to college at rates comparable to or higher than their traditionally schooled peers, and they tend to earn higher GPAs in their first year of college (Journal of College Admission, 2010).
What are volunteer hours?
Volunteer hours refer to unpaid work done for nonprofits, government, or community benefit. In education, these hours help show that students engage with their communities outside of school. Only Maryland and Arkansas have state requirements for community service to graduate. However, many scholarships need a certain number of hours—like Florida's Bright Futures, which asks for 100 hours for its top award. For homeschoolers, tracking volunteer hours can highlight activities that might not show up on transcripts, giving colleges a clearer picture of a well-rounded student.
What colleges want to see
Admissions officers have some clear preferences. About 70% prefer students who commit to a local cause for a longer time rather than jumping between short-term events. Around 60% like students who focus on one cause throughout high school—80 hours of tutoring at the same program over three years looks better than 150 hours across many events. Instead of chasing numbers, find something that matters to you. When you can explain why you served and what you learned, that story matters more than just the hours.
Where homeschoolers can volunteer
There are many ways to volunteer, both locally and online. Local options include:
- Animal shelters (walking dogs, feeding, adoption events)
- Food banks and soup kitchens
- Habitat for Humanity builds
- Tutoring younger students
- Church ministries
Online volunteering includes platforms like Learn to Be (tutoring), Learning Ally (recording audiobooks), and Citizen Archivist (transcribing documents). STEM students can join Hack Club or teach STEM classes through GenXL. The goal is to find something that truly interests you—not just ticking a box.
The bottom line
For homeschoolers, volunteer hours serve several purposes. They show community involvement for college applications, meet scholarship needs, help develop real-world skills, and support causes that matter. Start tracking volunteer hours early—ideally from freshman year. A hundred hours at the same shelter every Saturday for four years tells a compelling story. In contrast, a hundred hours spread across many organizations might seem like just checking off boxes. Keep good records and choose meaningful service. When you’re engaged, the hours will build up naturally.
