How ClassWallet Can Fund Your Child’s College Credits Before Graduation

 Some students are starting college as sophomores thanks to ESA funded credit.

When Sarah Johnson from Bentonville first opened her Education Freedom Account portal, she was excited but also unsure. “We had never had money like this for education before,” she says. “It felt like a big responsibility to use it well.”

Her plan was simple. She would use most of the $6,864 for Emily’s homeschool curriculum, maybe pay for a few enrichment classes, and upgrade her laptop. College credit was not part of the conversation at all.

That changed when Sarah overheard another mom at a homeschool co-op mention ClassWallet, Arkansas college credit. The phrase stuck with her. The next day, she logged in to ClassWallet, clicked through the vendor list, and found UPI Study.

“I realized Emily could take real college courses that would count toward her degree later. I had no idea that was even possible in high school,” Sarah says.

What ClassWallet actually does for parents

ClassWallet is the payment system the state uses to manage Education Freedom Account (EFA) spending. Parents log in, see the list of approved educational vendors, and choose how to spend their child’s funds.

It is not just for buying books or paying private school tuition. If a vendor like UPI Study is approved, parents can use their ESA funds to enroll their child in accredited online courses that award college credit.

The Arkansas Department of Education’s makes this possible for any eligible student, including those in homeschool settings, small rural districts, or public schools that do not offer advanced courses.

Why this can be life-changing for families

The average in-state tuition for public universities in Arkansas is now over $10,000 a year. That does not include housing, meal plans, transportation, or other fees.

If your child starts earning credits through ClassWallet Arkansas college credit in ninth or tenth grade, they could finish high school with a year or more of college already completed. That means saving thousands of dollars, potentially graduating early, and having room for extra opportunities like internships or study abroad.

Daniel Cruz, a former high school guidance counselor who now works as an education consultant, says the benefits go beyond money. “It gives students a huge confidence boost. They walk into their first day on campus already knowing how to handle a syllabus, deadlines, and college-level assignments.”

Emily’s first step

Sarah and Emily decided to start with Intro to Psychology. It was a subject Emily had always been curious about but had never been able to take in a homeschool curriculum.

“It was a challenge,” Emily admits, “but I liked being able to set my own schedule. I learned how to manage my time and stay on top of deadlines without my mom reminding me.”

She finished the class with an A and decided to take two more courses the next semester. By the time she graduated, Emily had earned 18 credits, nearly the equivalent of a freshman year of college all funded entirely through ESA and ClassWallet.

Who can benefit from ClassWallet Arkansas college credit

 Finding UPI Study in your ClassWallet account is the first step to getting ahead.

Cruz says he has seen all kinds of families benefit.

Families in rural areas with no local college can use online courses to give their child the same early start as kids in bigger cities. Homeschool parents who want their child to experience academic rigor before college can integrate the courses into their high school plan. Public school students whose schools do not offer AP or dual enrollment can still access college credit if their parents apply for ESA and use approved vendors.

“This is not about being the smartest kid in the class,” Cruz says. “It is about using resources that are already available to you in a smart way.”

Avoiding common mistakes

Sarah warns other parents not to wait until the end of the school year to think about using their ESA funds. “The money does not roll over. If you do not use it, you lose it.”

She also recommends calling potential colleges in advance to check their credit transfer policy. “I called three different universities to confirm they would accept Emily’s credits before we signed up for each class. It took a few minutes but it gave me peace of mind.”

Keeping good records is also important. Save syllabi, course descriptions, and transcripts so your child has everything they need for smooth transfers later.

The ripple effect in the community

Once Sarah started sharing Emily’s story in local homeschool meetups and Facebook groups, other parents began asking how they could do the same. At first, many thought it sounded too good to be true. Once she showed them the ClassWallet vendor page and Emily’s transcript, they understood.

Now several other families in her area are using their ESA funds for ClassWallet Arkansas college credit through UPI Study. Some are starting with one course, while others are planning two or three per semester.

Why you might not have heard of this before

Cruz says most parents hear about ESA funding through private school marketing or word-of-mouth. Very few schools, especially in rural areas, actively promote the idea of using funds for early college credit.

“It is not in their standard talking points,” Cruz says. “That is why parents have to be their own advocates. If you dig into the vendor list, you will see opportunities that no one is telling you about.”

Why now is the time to act

Arkansas’s EFA program is still new, which means there is plenty of room for families to use it creatively. As more parents discover ClassWallet Arkansas college credit, competition for certain courses and programs may increase.

Sarah says she has no regrets about getting started when she did. “Emily is going to start her university journey as a sophomore. We have saved thousands of dollars and given her a head start in life.”

Her advice is simple. “Log in. Search for UPI Study. Pick one course that interests your child. See how they do. You might be surprised how far it can take them.”