How Much Does Homeschooling Cost?
Homeschooling can be cheaper than traditional schooling and help you save on uniforms, tuition, and after-school programs. However, homeschooling supplies can include everything from a reliable curriculum and whiteboards to pencils and markers, which can add up quickly.
We understand that budget can be a huge deciding factor when making the decision to homeschool. Our goal is to help you make the best informed decision for your student! Keep in mind that homeschool requirements can vary by state, such as hiring a tutor or submitting yearly assessments.
How much does it cost to homeschool?
According to Tutors.com, the average cost of homeschooling is $500 to $2,500 per child per year. On the high end, some online homeschooling parents are spending up to $6,000 per child in 2023. $500 is quite a difference from $6,000. So, how can you plan for it?
In this article, we want to help you reduce the hidden costs of homeschooling! We’ve compiled several different areas of expense for homeschooling families to consider:
Curricula and testing fees
First, calculate the cost of your most important homeschooling tool: your curricula. Whether you make it from scratch, buy it pre-planned, or subscribe to an online service, this can easily become your biggest cost. Curricula can be bought individually by subject or in bundles for each grade level. Some online curricula also offer a lifetime subscription that may have a higher cost up front but will keep your student learning for years.
Some other things to consider are the age and number of students. Curricula for younger students are often cheaper than for older students. For children close in age, it may be more cost-effective to buy a curriculum that they can pass to their younger siblings. All-in-one homeschool subscriptions are a great way to get a lot for a little, especially if your students work quickly or have varied skill levels.
If your state requires an assessment, see if you can take them for free at the local public school. Most districts will be happy to make arrangements if you ask ahead of time. If you don’t want your student to take the state test, you may purchase a nationally normed standardized test, such as the TerraNova 3, IOWA, or Stanford Achievement exams.
Evaluations typically require a visit with a licensed professional counselor or a teacher. For in-home visits, there may be a travel charge along with the evaluation fee. Some evaluators may offer multi-child discounts, which can be a good way to save.
Books, software, and other supplies
Now that you’ve picked your curricula, it’s time to check out other supplies. This can be another large cost, depending on how thorough your curriculum is. For example, if you buy a used math curriculum, you may need to replace the workbook. If your science curriculum follows a textbook that’s sold separately, you’ll need to factor in that cost as well.
It can be very helpful to contact your local school district when sourcing books or other non-consumable materials, as some public schools have a book loan program for homeschoolers.
Your local libraries are another amazing resource. At the library, you may be able to borrow supplemental materials and books for reading practice, as well as STEM kits or other learning tools.
Digital supplies, such as software or laptops, can be another expense. There are plenty of free, open-source softwares available, so it helps to shop around! For devices, don’t be afraid to buy professionally refurbished ones. If you don’t need to install any programs, a Chromebook is a budget-friendly choice that’s popular with many public school students.
Finally, the miscellaneous supplies: science experiments, crafts, musical instruments, and math manipulatives. These can add up quickly, but the good news is that they can easily be shared between your children.
Learning professional costs (if applicable)
Some states have homeschooling options that require you to have a teaching license or hire someone to supervise who does. You’ll need to plan for the cost of getting a license or employing a tutor for the school year.
If you are in a state that allows an umbrella or private school option, you’ll need to consider tuition or dues for that school or program. Co-ops are another popular group homeschooling choice, which often require yearly dues.
Miscellaneous extras
If you’re switching to homeschool from a public school, you’ll have a few other things to think about as well.
If your students received free or reduced lunches from their school, you’ll need to factor in the cost of daily breakfasts and lunches for each of your children at home. If your curriculum is online and requires streaming or video calls, you’ll need to make sure that your internet has enough bandwidth so they can learn without outages or interruptions.
If your students plan to play any sports or participate in other extracurricular activities, there may be a sign-up fee or uniform cost. Finally, if you plan on taking field trips, budget costs ahead of time to see how many you’ll be able to take.
State funding
Some states provide funding for home education. These resources can be in the form of an education savings account (ESA), voucher or scholarship, tax credit, or tax deduction. The amount you’re eligible for may depend on your family size and tax bracket.
Each state’s resources (if any) and their qualifications are different, so be sure to check with your state’s education department to learn more details and see how you qualify.
Budgeting
Now that you’ve answered the above questions, you may have found additional homeschooling expenses or incomes you hadn’t considered. You can create a homeschool budget for each child or your whole family and include the items on it above. There are plenty of free online templates if you need help!
After you’ve created your budget, you can experiment with where you can cut costs if needed. You can also check out our other resource about how to homeschool on a budget for more tips on cutting expenses.
Homeschooling Costs with Miacademy
When you homeschool with Miacademy or MiaPrep, you can save money with our comprehensive curricula and annual discounts! For all of our learning sites, we offer:
1. Comprehensive curricula
Find everything you need for your child’s education, all in one place! We provide our own text materials in our PDFs, along with video lessons, assessments, and practice games. We cover all core subjects (plus fun electives!) for students in K-8 on Miacademy and 9-12 on MiaPrep.
2. Simplified payment
We have something for students of all ages at Miacademy and MiaPrep! For multi-student families, instead of buying or subscribing to several different services, simplify your billing with our easy family plans, or prepay for an entire year.
3. More for your money
All Miacademy memberships are all-inclusive, so you get access to everything we have to offer! Enroll in an unlimited amount of lessons, try out our fun games and optional social features, and enjoy our monthly content releases. There’s always something new to learn and a new way to save with our seasonal sales! You can also try us out for $1.99 for 30 days, risk free.
If you have any questions about Miacademy or MiaPrep for your students, feel free to contact our helpful customer service team! They are always knowledgeable and happy to help with any questions you may have.
FAQ
How do you budget for homeschooling?
You can create a budget by first identifying your planned expenses and the amount of income you’re willing to set aside for homeschooling. Then, subtract your expenses from your income to get an estimate of how much homeschooling will cost. You can also set up a homeschool savings account that automatically withdraws from your paycheck each month.
Is homeschooling expensive?
The cost of homeschooling depends on the curriculum, materials, and other resources you choose. While it can become expensive, there are ways to keep costs down. Tracking your spending with a homeschool budget can be a great way to analyze your expenses.
How much do you pay someone to homeschool your child?
The median salary of a homeschool teacher in the United States is currently $65,059, according to Glassdoor. This equates to roughly $31.25 per hour. However, this will vary depending on where you live and your teacher’s experience — wages can range from $24.00 to $41.35 per hour.
Last updated: 11/17/2023. The information provided on this site is intended for research purposes only. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information, or for the results yielded through use of this information.