How Much Does Homeschooling Cost?

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On:

Many families are drawn to homeschooling for a variety of meaningful reasons. For some families, it offers a more personalized approach, allowing learning to grow around a child's individual pace, interests, learning needs, or family values. However, as you begin to picture what homeschooling might look like for your family, you may also start to feel a little overwhelmed by the supplies, curriculum, and materials needed to make homeschooling a reality.

That is why “how much does homeschooling cost?” is such a common question.

In this guide, we’ll walk through common homeschooling expenses and typical ranges to help you estimate costs and see how homeschooling might fit within your family's budget.

Average Cost of Homeschooling Per Year

When families begin exploring the cost of homeschooling, one of the first things they often look for is a simple yearly estimate. In practice, homeschooling can look very different from one family to another: some keep things very simple and home-led, while others add paid online instruction, extracurricular classes, or tutoring. Those choices are a big reason why the totals can look so different from one family to the next.

However, the average cost of homeschooling is anywhere from $300 per child per year to $2,500+.

Several published cost guides report the following typical annual ranges per child:

OPTION TYPICAL YEARLY RANGE
Homeschooling (overall) $300–$2,500
Online homeschooling programs $400–$6,000
Homeschooling with supplemental tutoring $700–$7,000
Homeschooling with a private teacher $35,000–$70,000
Public school (costs beyond tuition) $100–$1,000
Private School $5,000–$20,000

What Research Suggests

In 2024, an HSLDA survey of more than 4,000 homeschooling families nationwide provided insight into current cost estimates. Families reported spending an average of $1,295 per year to homeschool an elementary student and $1,636 per year for a middle or high school student.

The survey results also highlighted several key factors:

  1. Location impacts cost: Families in more rural areas reported lower average costs. Even so, the reported averages for both rural and suburban/urban areas remained below $2,000 per student per year.
  2. Family size can also impact overall homeschooling costs. With an average of two students per household, the estimated total yearly cost per family was approximately $3,104.

The findings suggest that homeschooling costs can vary widely depending on grade level, location, and the structure of each family’s homeschool.

What Do Families Typically Pay for When Homeschooling?

Most homeschooling expenses fall into four main categories. A closer look into the costs of these categories may help you find potential areas you can save. These categories typically include:

  • Curriculum and academic resources
  • Supplies and materials
  • Testing or state-required evaluations
  • Extracurricular hobbies and activities

Curriculum and Academic Resources

For many families, curriculum is the foundation of their homeschool plan. This may include materials for language arts, math, science, and history, along with teacher guides and assessments (if needed). Families may choose to:

  • Select individual subjects from different publishers
  • Use a comprehensive, grade-level program designed to work together
  • Enroll in online or digital courses
  • Combine printed materials with outside classes or instruction

It is estimated that curriculum expenses may range from $200 to $800 per student per year, depending on what is and is not included with a curriculum. Often, the amount invested in curriculum depends on the age or grade of the student.

Many families find that yearly costs decrease over time if they are able to reuse curriculum with more than one child.

Supplies and Materials

In addition to the curriculum, families need additional supplies to support their child’s learning, just like they typically would in mainstream public school. Families typically budget for the following:

  • Paper, notebooks, and writing tools
  • Workbooks or reference books
  • Basic office supplies, such as staplers, tape, etc.
  • Art materials or science tools
  • Calculators, maps, globes, and other subject-specific learning tools
  • Access to technology, such as a computer or printer

Estimates suggest supply costs may fall between $100 and $700 per student annually. However, many of these supplies will last a student longer than a year, or may even be a one-time purchase, e.g., laptop, calculator.

School supplies laying around a stack of notebooks | The Good and the Beautiful

Testing and State Requirements

An expense that often differs from state to state is testing and evaluation requirements. Because requirements vary by state, the specific expectations for homeschooling can differ depending on where a family lives.

Depending on location, families may need to:

  • Submit annual paperwork
  • Participate in standardized testing
  • Complete portfolio reviews or evaluations
A blue map of the United States of America | The Good and the Beautiful

Some states have minimal reporting requirements, so costs in these areas are likely small to nonexistent. Families can review current requirements through resources such as the HSLDA State Law Map to better understand what applies in their state.

Extracurricular and Enrichment Activities

Many families choose to include enrichment activities as part of their homeschool experience. These activities tend to be a great opportunity to improve a child’s social skills, make friends, develop new skills, and explore interests outside the home.

These may include:

  • Sports teams
  • Music or art lessons
  • Field trips
  • Seasonal camps
  • Scouting or clubs
  • Teenage children playing soccer in red and blue jerseys | The Good and the Beautiful
  • A school-aged girl learning how to play the guitar | The Good and the Beautiful
  • Two school-aged kids running on a track | The Good and the Beautiful

These enrichment expenses are often estimated to range from $100 to $1,000 per year. Unlike some of the core academic costs, participation in these activities is completely optional. While many homeschooled children take part in sports, lessons, or group activities, the level of involvement and financial investment can look very different from family to family.

Important note: Another factor that can affect homeschooling costs is the loss of income when a family chooses for one parent to stay home full-time. This can reduce the monthly budget available for household expenses, including homeschooling.


How Families Manage Homeschool Costs

Homeschooling costs vary widely depending on a family's choices. The good news is that families can make it more affordable in many practical ways, no matter what their budget looks like. Here are a few common ways families make homeschooling more affordable:

Balancing Paid Curriculum with Free Resources

Not all homeschool curriculum costs money. Some publishers, such as The Good and the Beautiful, offer free learning resources and even free curriculum.

  • Using Community Resources

    Public libraries, community centers, churches, and even local educational programs often provide access to:

    • Books and research materials
    • Educational workshops
    • Clubs or church activities

    While these are not going to replace the essential core academic curriculum, they may supplement learning without significantly increasing yearly costs.

  • Curved library shelves filled with books | The Good and the Beautiful

Adjusting Enrichment Participation

As mentioned previously, extracurricular and enrichment activities are often estimated between $100 and $1,000 per year. However, it is easy to fall into the trap of participating in too many activities for homeschooling and public school families alike. Do what works best for your family and don't feel pressured to commit to outside activities year-round. It's acceptable to limit the number of activities your family is involved in each season. It's even okay to take a season off. Balancing your family's extracurricular activities not only helps manage the family schedule but also the budget. 

How Much Does The Good and the Beautiful Cost?

The Good and the Beautiful offers families both printed curriculum materials and digital downloads designed to support learning at home. Physical resources typically range from $10 to $125 per course, depending on the subject and level selected.

  • A collage of course books from all subjects | The Good and the Beautiful

  • Curriculum is generally purchased by subject and grade level, and families have the option to choose only the course/courses they plan to teach during the year.

    In addition to paid curriculum materials, The Good and the Beautiful provides:

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does homeschooling cost per month?

Annually, families can expect to pay around $300 to $2,500 or more per child per year. With that in mind, monthly costs work out to approximately $25 to $210 per month, on average.

That being said, costs rarely end up spreading evenly throughout the year. Often, the beginning of the school year is the most expensive, as this is typically when families will purchase supplies and curriculum materials.

Do parents get paid to homeschool?

No, in most states, parents do not receive direct payment for homeschooling their children. The amount of time and effort given by homeschooling parents is tremendous, and the benefits to your child’s education and family are priceless.

  • Some states offer state-sponsored curriculum reimbursement programs for certain homeschool expenses. These offerings vary by state, and not all families or materials qualify.
  • Some states offer income tax write-offs for certain curriculum, equipment, books, classes, and activities. These write-offs vary by state.

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