What’s the Average Cost to Homeschool?

There are many reasons to start homeschooling and many factors to consider before getting started, including the average cost to homeschool. Some families may wonder how much home education costs and worry it may be too expensive. Let’s take a closer look at the factors involved in the cost of homeschooling and the average cost to homeschool in the U.S.

What factors contribute to the cost of homeschooling?

Homeschooling costs can vary widely from family to family, depending on the choices they make. Some may spend very little each year, while others spend thousands per child. In general, any family can make homeschooling fit their budget, but it’s important to be aware of potential costs before getting started. Here are some of the costs you can anticipate when homeschooling:

• Curriculum Programs: These are the programs you use to cover the subjects your child learns each year, such as math, reading, science, and social studies. While many states allow home educators to design their own curriculum programs, this is a time-intensive process, and some families may prefer to purchase ready-to-use programs instead.
  
  
• School Supplies: This includes the usual school supplies every child needs, like pencils, paper, and glue sticks. You should also remember to budget for other supplies that schools often provide, like science experiment supplies, art supplies, gym supplies, and more.
  
  
• Classes (Online or In-person): Many home-educated children participate in private classes to learn some subjects or for enrichment purposes. The cost for these classes can vary greatly.

• Teachers or Tutors: As your child gets older and starts studying more advanced topics or struggles with certain subjects, they may need specialized teachers or tutors to help them with their studies. 
  
  
• Books and Workbooks: Even if you use a curriculum program, textbooks and workbooks may not be included. Or, you may want to use textbooks or workbooks of your own choosing to supplement the learning your child is doing.
  

What are the hidden costs of homeschooling?

While homeschooling has costs you can anticipate and predict, there are also some surprise costs of homeschooling that you may not realize or account for at first. Be sure to consider items like these in your budget:

• Meals: Most homeschool children do not qualify for state-subsidized meals, like breakfast and lunch, that are provided to some public school children. Families need to account for the costs of feeding their children three meals at home every day.

• Field Trips: Educational trips are a fun part of learning, but the costs can add up. Remember to include items like fuel and transportation as well as admission costs when determining the expenses associated with field trips.

• Technology: You’ll need to ensure each child you homeschool has access to the technology they need, like laptops, tablets, headphones, and so on, to support any online learning they may be doing. 

• Extracurriculars: In some states, homeschoolers can participate in extracurriculars at their local public school, but they’ll still need to pay any fees associated with those activities. Other states prohibit homeschoolers from taking part in public school extracurriculars, so families will need to find community activities instead, which will likely have participation fees. Check your state’s guidelines for information on public school access to extracurriculars.

• Co-op Fees: If you choose to join a co-op or homeschooling support group, there may be annual fees or other costs associated with them. 
  
  
• Childcare: Families who have children that are too young for structured homeschooling may need to hire someone to care for them while older children receive home instruction. 
  
  
• Required Standardized Tests or Evaluations: Some states require home-educated children to participate in standardized tests on a regular basis or have evaluations performed by certified educators. There may be fees for these tests or evaluations, which families are responsible for paying. Check your state’s laws for these requirements.

What is the average cost of homeschooling?

A survey commissioned by Age of Learning found that the average homeschool family spends $1,008 per year, compared to $930 per year for traditional schooling–a difference of just $78. 

Investopedia estimates annual costs for homeschooling may range from $700 to $1800 per student, on average. And some families report spending as much as $5,000 a year on their homeschooling activities, though this is unusual. Each family’s individual choices dictate their overall spending, and there are generally options to fit any family’s financial situation.

A variety of factors can impact the price of homeschooling, and the average cost to homeschool can vary from family to family. Some families use educational methods with very few associated costs. Others choose curriculum programs, classes, teachers and tutors, or extracurriculars with higher price tags.

How much should I budget for various homeschool components?

To get a realistic idea of how much homeschooling would cost your family, start by doing some research. Talk with other local homeschoolers, and ask if they’d be willing to share their budgets. Explore potential curriculum programs or classes, and make note of the costs. Join a state or local homeschool group for access to their resources, which can give you helpful information.

Curriculum programs are usually one of the biggest costs involved with home education. Parents.com reports that these programs can cost between $60 to $600 or more per child per year. This could be for online programs, which have regular recurring costs, or it could be a one-time investment for a paper curriculum you can use again with other children.

As noted above, there are many other potential costs associated with homeschooling. In a survey commissioned by Age of Learning, families reported these average annual costs for some common homeschool components:

• School Supplies: $123
• Books: $95
• Educational games: $62
• Meals: $473

These are just estimates, and your own costs may vary. Diligent research is the best way to understand what your own homeschooling costs might be.

6 ways to save money while homeschooling

It’s definitely not necessary to break the bank to provide your child with a quality education. Finding ways to save money on homeschooling costs is easier than you might think. Consider some of these options:

Every family can find a way to make quality homeschooling affordable by doing some research and making choices to support their budget and goals.