There is no application fee. There is no test requirement. There is no minimum GPA. What we will ask, instead, is that you tell us in your own words why you want to study here — and that you submit a brief writing sample we can read to understand how you think.
Neponset will practice what we call open but honest admissions. We will not screen for selectivity. If you hold a high school diploma or its equivalent — or can demonstrate equivalent preparation by other means — you will be able to apply.
What we will screen for is fit and readiness. Our seminars will be demanding. We will read your writing sample and your statement carefully, and if we have concerns, we will tell you so before admitting you, not afterward.
Applications are not yet open. Join the interest list below, and we will write when they open.
A short online form, once applications open: name, contact information, prior education, and how you heard about Neponset. Five minutes, no payment required.
A 500–1,500 word piece of your own writing on a topic of your choosing. New or previously written, formal or informal — we want to read your thinking.
One page on what brought you here, what you hope to read or argue about, and what you would bring to a seminar room.
Confirmation of high school completion or equivalent. If your path was unconventional, you may petition with alternative evidence of preparation.
Yes. Tuition is $0 for all admitted students. Neponset charges course registration fees that average about $1,600 per learner per year, with need-based waivers. There is no application fee.
We do not, at present, offer financial aid for living expenses, books, or other costs of life — because we do not collect tuition to redistribute. Students are responsible for their own living arrangements.
The honest answer is: the education will be real, but the credential is not — yet. Our seminars will be taught by working scholars and practitioners; the reading will be rigorous; the assessments will be graded. What we cannot offer at this time is a degree recognized by the Commonwealth or by accrediting bodies. We intend to seek both, and we will say so clearly when our status changes.
Probably not, at this time. Transfer credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution, and most accredited institutions will not accept credit from an unaccredited program. If transferability is critical to you, we would gently suggest that Neponset is not yet the right fit — and we will tell you so directly during admissions.
No instructors have been appointed yet. We are looking for scholars, retired professors, and practitioners who believe — as we do — that serious instruction does not need to be tied to a payroll. They teach for a modest per-course stipend because they want to teach the way they wish they could have been taught. Faculty appointments will be reviewed by a faculty senate, once one is formed.
Honestly, the kind of student who is annoyed by this question. People who want to read difficult things, argue carefully, and write with seriousness — and who are not in a hurry to be credentialed — should do well. People who need a degree on a timeline probably will not.
Neponset is fully online. We are happy to schedule conversations by video. Email hello@neponset.co with a few times that work for you.
Registration is open for Fall 2028; classes have not started and Neponset is not yet accredited. Join the interest list and we will write when term dates are set.