Home › Civics & economics › Guides

Best homeschool economics curriculum

A homeschool economics credit is usually half a year, often paired with government. The programs below teach markets, money and trade, and nearly all are written from a free-market view, so the real choice is how much structure, how Christian, and how much macroeconomics you want.

Updated September 2026 · 14 programs compared · rankings from our published scoring rules

Every child is different. Add your child's grade, the viewpoint you want and what you want to study for a personal ranking.

Try it with an economics credit selected

What matters for an economics credit

Know the viewpoint going in. Almost every homeschool economics course leans toward free-market ideas, so expect to add your own balance if you want a wider range of views.

Check the level. Some economics texts assume a good grasp of modern history, and some are lighter and more practical.

Look at what you need alongside. Personal finance is its own subject in several programs, not part of the economics course.

Our top 5 for an economics credit

  1. Notgrass Exploring Government and Exploring Economics

    Two half-year high school courses: daily reading, founding documents, essays and projects, written for independent students

    • A separate semester of economics
    • Half credit each; quizzes and exams available
    • Watch for: strong conservative christian viewpoint
    Grades 9th–12thDaily textbook reading plus a collection of primary sources, with a project menu in every unitCost: $70: Exploring Government curriculum package (textbook plus We Hold These Truths); Exploring Economics is sold separately

  2. BJU Press American Government and Economics

    Illustrated high school textbooks with teacher's editions, tests and a stock-market project, from a Christian publisher

    • Full Economics text
    • Built as a semester course with tests
    • Watch for: higher price, and government and economics are separate kits
    Grades 11th–12thFull-color textbook with chapter questions, activity manual and tests; optional video courseCost: $223: American Government homeschool kit, 4th edition ($222.95; Economics is a separate kit)

  3. Abeka American Government and Economics

    Two one-semester textbook courses with teacher keys, strongly patriotic and pro-free-enterprise

    • A semester of Economics: Work and Prosperity
    • Built as a one-semester course each
    • Watch for: strong conservative christian and patriotic viewpoint
    Grades 11th–12thTextbook reading with section reviews, chapter essays and quizzesCost: $46: American Government student text; teacher edition ($70) and Economics: Work and Prosperity are extra

  4. The Classical Historian: Take a Stand! American Government and Economics

    A one-year Socratic course that combines government and economics, best run as a weekly group class

    • Economics built in alongside government
    • A year course meant to meet most states' requirements
    • Watch for: best with a group class; harder for one student at home
    Grades 9th–12thReading, discussion, research and presentations; students defend and argue both sidesCost: $22: student edition; the teacher edition (about $22) and two required outside books are extra

  5. Scott Clifton: Economics and Civics for Christian Homeschoolers

    Two short, self-study Christian courses: a 15-week free-market economics book and a civics book, with free answer keys

    • A 15-week economics course
    • One-semester course
    • Watch for: topics are selected to support one viewpoint
    Grades 9th–12thReading assignments four days a week with a discussion day; optional live classCost: $20: Economics book on Amazon ($19.99, now titled Economics: A Christian Worldview); the Civics book is sold separately

Questions parents ask

What is the best homeschool economics curriculum?

It depends on viewpoint, level and how much you want to teach. Notgrass, BJU Press and Abeka are the most complete textbook-style options on our list.

Is personal finance the same as economics?

No. Economics covers how markets and money work at large; personal finance covers budgeting, credit and investing. Our personal finance guide lists courses built for the second.

Do these count for a half credit?

Yes. Each of the courses ranked here is built as a one-semester course, though a few of the combined programs cover both government and economics in one year.

How this list is made: each program is scored against the needs above using features documented in parent reviews and publisher materials (sources are listed in each program's profile). It's a starting point, not medical, legal or educational advice.