We’ve used BJU Press Homeschool as our main curriculum for almost five years, so if you’re looking for a BJU Press homeschool review from a family that’s actually used it day after day, you’re in the right place.
During that time, we’ve used BJU Press for subjects including Math, Bible, English, Reading, Spelling, Handwriting, Heritage Studies, and Focus on Fives.
I’ve also gathered feedback from more than 30 homeschool families who have used BJU Press, giving this review a broader perspective than just our own experience.
In this review, I’ll share how the BJU Press online lessons work, how much parent involvement is really required, which subjects I’d buy again tomorrow, and whether I think BJU Press is worth the cost.
Oh, and heads up—this post contains affiliate links, so if you decide to purchase BJU homeschool curriculum here, thank you! It helps support our small homeschool family. 💛
Now, let’s dive in!
BJU Press Homeschool Review: Quick Verdict
If you don’t have time to read the whole article, this is my quick take:
I hope you enjoy reading this blog post. If you want to do my course on how to homeschool, click here.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best For:
- Christian families
- Parents who want video teachers
- Independent learners
- Busy homeschool moms
❌ Not Ideal For:
- Charlotte Mason homeschoolers
- Families wanting lots of nature study
- Budget-only shoppers
My Rating: 9/10
Want to know why I gave it a 9/10? Read my full review below.
What Is BJU Press Homeschool?
BJU Press Homeschool is a Christian curriculum that combines traditional textbooks with optional video lessons taught by professional teachers.
Created for Christian schools, BJU Press now offers homeschool versions of its courses, including both textbook-only programs and online video courses. (If you’re curious what the courses actually look like, you can browse the current catalog here.)
What makes BJU Press different from many homeschool curricula is the level of support it provides. Rather than expecting parents to teach every lesson themselves, the video teachers explain concepts, lead reviews, ask questions, and guide students through much of their daily work.
Over the past five years, this has been one of the biggest reasons we’ve continued using it.
Key Features of BJU Press
📖 Christian worldview integrated throughout every subject
🎥 Video teachers who guide students through lessons
🚀 Increasing independence as children get older
📚 Strong academics with a structured approach
✏️ Textbooks, workbooks, and online options available
🧮 Manipulatives, games, songs, and hands-on activities in the younger grades
💻 Online and offline learning options
🏫 Accredited and non-accredited options available
For many families, the biggest question isn’t whether BJU Press is academically strong—it’s whether the video lessons are worth the extra cost.
That’s what we’ll look at next.
BJU Press Online Review: How the Video Lessons Actually Work
One of the biggest reasons we’ve stuck with BJU Press for almost five years is the online video lessons.
Before using BJU Press, I assumed I’d still be heavily involved in teaching every subject. Instead, I was surprised by how much the video teachers took over. By Grade 3, my son Luke was completing around 95% of his work independently.
The lessons don’t feel like a traditional classroom. Instead, they feel more like sitting down with a warm, friendly teacher who is talking directly to your child. The teacher appears on screen in a set designed for that subject. A math lesson might include on-screen equations and graphics, while younger grades often feature craft corners, songs, games, and additional teachers helping with activities.
The teachers tell students exactly what to do, including which page to open, when to pause the video, and what activities to complete. They regularly stop and ask questions, giving children time to think through their answers before continuing.
In the younger grades, the lessons are especially engaging. Children sing songs, use manipulatives, play review games, complete quizzes, and watch age-appropriate videos. There are lots of colorful on-screen graphics that help explain concepts and keep lessons interesting.
You can see on of the BJU Press Homeschool Math sample video lessons here.
How Long Are the Lessons?
This will vary depending on the age of your child and how many video lessons you choose to watch.
In our homeschool, we often skip video lessons when a child has already mastered the material. For example, Luke is strong in math, so he often watches the introduction to a chapter and then skips lessons if he’s consistently scoring 80–100% on his work. However, he completes almost all of the spelling videos because he finds them helpful.
Our approximate daily homeschool times look like this:
- Preschool: Around 30 minutes
- Kindergarten: Around 1 hour
- Grade 1: Around 1.5 hours
- Grade 2: Around 2 hours
- Grade 3: Around 3.5 hours
It’s worth noting that we homeschool four days a week and take a very long break at the end of the year, so our schedule may look different from yours.
Using our skipping method, most individual subjects are surprisingly short:
- Bible: Around 20 minutes
- English: Around 20 minutes
- Reading: Around 20 minutes
I’ve put a video below of exactly how we skip stuff (because I get asked this a lot!)
Parent Involvement
The younger the child, the more help they’ll need.
In preschool, I was involved quite a bit.
By kindergarten and Grade 1, that involvement decreased significantly.
By Grade 2, Luke was mostly working independently except when reading difficult sentences.
By Grade 3, the curriculum was almost entirely student-led through the video teachers.
As a parent, I still:
- Check completed work
- Occasionally grade tests
- Orally assess my dyslexic son
- Print the occasional activity page in younger grades
For us, this usually amounts to only a few minutes each day.
A Huge Help For Dyslexia
Luke has dyslexia and dysgraphia, so writing is challenging for him regardless of which curriculum we use.
One thing I appreciate about BJU Press is that concepts are explained both visually and verbally through the videos (hitting multiple learning styles!). If he were using a curriculum that relied entirely on reading instructions and completing workbook pages independently (and we have tried ones like this because they’re cheaper!), he would struggle much more.
For written-heavy subjects, we often allow oral responses instead.
That’s not really a BJU issue—it’s simply an accommodation that works well for our child.
My Favourite BJU Press Subjects
If I were rebuilding our homeschool tomorrow, this would be my order:
- Math
- Spelling
- Reading
- English
- Bible
- Handwriting
- Heritage Studies
BJU Press Math is the first subject I would repurchase without hesitation.
👉 You can see the current BJU Press Math options here.
What I Would Change
If BJU Press removed the video teachers tomorrow, I would probably switch curricula.
The video lessons are the feature that makes BJU Press stand out from almost every other homeschool curriculum we’ve used.
The only subject I’m less convinced by is science. We often use Journey Homeschool Academy instead (they’re amazing!) because my son found BJU’s science lessons a little slow for his learning style.
Pros
✔ Excellent video teachers
✔ Very high student independence by the elementary years
✔ Strong biblical worldview
✔ Engaging lessons with games, songs, quizzes, and manipulatives
✔ Clear step-by-step instruction
✔ Works especially well for busy homeschool parents (I often work for four hours a day!)
✔ Strong academics
Cons
✘ Expensive compared to many homeschool programs
✘ Younger students still need parental help
✘ Science wasn’t our favourite subject
✘ Some children may need lesson skipping to avoid boredom if they master concepts quickly
My Overall Opinion
BJU Press is the curriculum that has made the biggest difference to our homeschool.
It has allowed me to homeschool multiple children, work from home, and still provide a strong Christian education without personally teaching every lesson.
If you’re interested in seeing the exact BJU Press courses we currently use, you can browse the full BJU Press Homeschool catalogue here.
For families who want structure, strong academics, and increasing independence as their children grow, it’s one of the best homeschool curriculum options I’ve found.
Is BJU Press Online or Paper-Based?
One thing I appreciate about BJU Press is that you don’t have to choose between a completely online curriculum and a completely paper-based one.
Today, homeschool families have three main options:
1. Video Lessons + Physical Books
This is the option we personally use.
Students watch lessons taught by BJU’s video teachers while completing work in physical textbooks and workbooks. It’s a nice balance between technology and traditional learning because children aren’t sitting in front of a screen all day.
For our family, this has been the easiest option. By Grade 3, Luke was completing around 95% of his work independently, which gave me much more freedom to work with my younger children and run my business.
2. Traditional Teacher Manuals
The second option is to teach the curriculum yourself using BJU’s teacher manuals.
These manuals are incredibly thorough, but I’ll be honest—they weren’t my favourite. When we first started using BJU Press, I tried teaching from the manuals and quickly realised I didn’t have the time (or desire!) to work through pages and pages of lesson notes every day.
Some parents love that level of detail, but it wasn’t the best fit for me.
3. NEW Teacher Edition Companions (2026)
This is probably the most exciting recent change BJU Press has made.
For years, families basically had two choices: pay for the video lessons or work through the full teacher manuals yourself.
Now BJU Press has introduced Teacher Edition Companions.
These are designed specifically for homeschool parents and provide a much simpler lesson overview. Instead of sorting through several pages of teacher notes, parents get a clear snapshot of what they need to teach, what materials are required, and what assignments to complete.
From what I’ve seen, they take much of the overwhelm out of parent-led teaching while remaining far more affordable than the video courses.
Really, if I were starting BJU Press today and didn’t want to pay for the video lessons, this is probably the option I’d investigate first.
The option that’s right for you will depend on your budget, teaching style, and how independent your children are. For our family, the video lessons have been worth every cent—but I love that homeschool parents now have a simpler middle-ground option as well.
What’s the Curriculum Actually Like?
One thing that surprised me about BJU Press was the quality of the materials.
The textbooks are colourful, professionally designed, and much more engaging than the black-and-white workbooks many homeschool parents picture when they hear “traditional curriculum.”
We’ve used everything from Focus on Fives through to Grade 3 courses, and I’ve generally been impressed by both the presentation and the academic quality.
The lessons are structured and academically rigorous, but they don’t simply focus on memorisation. Students are regularly encouraged to think critically, solve problems, and apply concepts to real-world situations.
A biblical worldview is woven throughout every subject, helping children view history, science, literature, and everyday life through a Christian lens.
While the curriculum isn’t perfect (I’ll discuss some drawbacks later), it’s one of the strongest academically-focused Christian homeschool programs we’ve used.
Parent Dashboard & Progress Tracking
One feature I haven’t mentioned yet is the parent dashboard.
Parents can log in at any time to:
✔️ View completed work
✔️ Check grades (from Grade 5 onwards)
✔️ Adjust grades if needed
✔️ Monitor progress across subjects
I’ve found it useful because I can quickly see how my children are progressing without having to constantly look over their shoulders.
FAQs: Is BJU Press Too Easy or Too Hard?
FAQs: Is BJU Press Too Easy or Too Hard?This is one of the most common questions homeschool parents ask.
In my experience, BJU Press tends to be academically strong and more structured than many homeschool curricula.
That said, whether it feels too easy or too hard often depends on the child.
For example, my son Luke is particularly strong in math, so we often skip parts of the program when he’s consistently scoring 80–100% on his work. If we didn’t, he’d probably get bored.
On the other hand, Luke has dyslexia and dysgraphia, so subjects involving lots of reading and writing are naturally more challenging for him regardless of the curriculum. We often allow oral responses instead of written answers when appropriate.
Overall, I’d describe BJU Press as a rigorous curriculum that works well for average to strong learners, while still being accessible to many struggling learners when parents make appropriate accommodations.
BJU Press vs Abeka: Which Do I Prefer?
BJU Press and Abeka are two of the biggest names in Christian homeschooling, and I get asked about this comparison all the time.
While both are academically strong and unapologetically Christian, I would generally recommend BJU Press for most modern homeschool families.
🎥 Video Lessons
BJU Press video lessons are significantly shorter than Abeka (roughly around 20% shorter).
The BJU teachers feel more like homeschool teachers talking directly to your child, whereas Abeka’s videos feel more like sitting in a traditional classroom.
📚 Workload
BJU Press tends to have a lighter workload (moderate to hard academically); Abeka is rigorous and downright hard.
Abeka includes a lot of review and repetition, which some families appreciate but others find overwhelming.
✝️ Christian Worldview
Both programs do an excellent job of integrating a biblical worldview throughout the curriculum.
I would happily use either from a theological perspective.
🚀 Independence
Both encourage independence; although because there are fewer worksheets, I think BJU Press wins as it’s not so overwhelming!.
Abeka curriculum can also be skipped too, and done independently.
💰 Cost
Neither curriculum is cheap.
However, I generally feel BJU Press is far more affordable. All grades between grade 1 and 12 are around $1,099 (2026 prices). This is worth it for me because it allows me to earn far more due to the time it gives me to work!
Abeka also allows for indpendence if using the video lessons. But thier Abeka Academy curriculum starts at around $1349 and goes up to $1,700 for high school levels. So Abeka is a lot more expensive.
My Verdict
If you want a traditional classroom-style education with lots of review and repetition, and a very hard academically rigorous pace, Abeka may be the better fit. (I used Abeka growing up and I cried over thier math!)
If you want strong academics, engaging video teachers, increasing student independence, and a curriculum that requires less direct teaching from parents, I’d choose BJU Press.
👉 You can watch my full BJU Press vs Abeka comparison below.
Do They Use Spiral Learning or Mastery-Based Learning?
BJU Press generally uses a spiral learning approach, meaning students revisit concepts throughout the year at increasing levels of difficulty.
In practice, this means children don’t learn a topic once and never see it again. Instead, important concepts are reviewed regularly, helping students retain what they’ve learned over the long term.
However, BJU Press Math often feels like a blend of spiral learning and mastery learning.
Students are given plenty of review, but they also spend enough time on new concepts to develop genuine understanding before moving on.
As a parent, I’ve found this works well. My son gets enough repetition to remember what he’s learned without feeling like he’s endlessly reviewing the same material.
If your child thrives on regular review and reinforcement, BJU Press will probably be a good fit. If you strongly prefer a pure mastery-based approach, you may prefer programs such as Teaching Textbooks.
👉 You can browse BJU Press Math and other subject options here.
What Denomination Is BJU Press?
BJU Press is a conservative Protestant Christian curriculum produced by Bob Jones University.
While the curriculum has roots in the university’s theological beliefs, most homeschool families will simply notice that it teaches from a broadly evangelical Christian worldview. Scripture is woven throughout the subjects, and students are encouraged to evaluate ideas through a biblical lens.
As a Baptist myself, I’ve found the curriculum works well for our family. Most Christian homeschool families will likely find far more agreement than disagreement in the content.
Is BJU Press Common Core?
🚫 No.
BJU Press does not follow Common Core standards.
While they may occasionally provide comparisons to Common Core objectives, the curriculum was developed independently and maintains its own academic standards and Christian worldview.
For many homeschool families, that’s actually one of the reasons they choose BJU Press over public-school aligned programs.
Is BJU Press Challenging?
Yes, I would generally describe BJU Press as academically strong.
After using it for almost five years, I’ve found it to be more rigorous than many homeschool curricula, particularly in subjects like Math, English, and Reading.
The curriculum encourages students to think critically, solve problems, and apply concepts rather than simply memorising facts.
That said, the difficulty level will depend on your child.
My son is strong in Math, so we often skip lessons when he’s consistently scoring 80–100%. In other areas, such as writing, he needs more support because of his dyslexia and dysgraphia.
Overall, I’d place BJU Press in the “strong academics” category without feeling unnecessarily overwhelming.
Is BJU Press the Same as Bob Jones University?
Not exactly.
BJU Press was originally developed by Bob Jones University, which is why many homeschool parents still refer to it as the “Bob Jones curriculum.”
Today, however, most families simply know the curriculum as BJU Press.
So if you hear someone talking about Bob Jones curriculum or BJU Press, they’re generally referring to the same homeschool program.
Who Owns BJU Press?
BJU Press operates as part of the broader BJU educational ministry and publishing organization based in Greenville, South Carolina.
While most homeschool families won’t notice any difference, the curriculum continues to reflect the Christian educational philosophy that made it popular in the first place.
What Grades Does BJU Press Cover?
One advantage of BJU Press Homeschool is that it offers a complete curriculum from K3 through Grade 12.
This means families can:
✔ Use the same curriculum from preschool through high school
✔ Teach multiple children using the same educational approach
✔ Avoid having to switch curricula every few years
For families looking for long-term consistency, that’s a significant advantage.
👉 You can browse all BJU Press grade levels here.
My Father’s World vs BJU Press
Both BJU Press and My Father’s World are strong Christian homeschool programs, but they take very different approaches.
BJU Press is structured, textbook-based, and offers video lessons that allow students to work more independently.
My Father’s World is more hands-on, combining Charlotte Mason ideas, unit studies, and family learning.
My Verdict
Choose BJU Press if you want structure, independence, and less parent teaching.
Choose My Father’s World if you love read-alouds, projects, and a more flexible homeschool style.
👉 Compare BJU Press vs. My Father’s World more here!
Sonlight vs BJU Press
We actually use and enjoy both.
BJU Press provides structured lessons, workbooks, and video teachers, making it easier for children to work independently.
Sonlight is built around great books, biographies, and historical fiction, creating a literature-rich learning experience.
My Verdict
Choose BJU Press if you want strong academics and less parent involvement.
Choose Sonlight if your family loves reading aloud and learning through books.
Personally, I use BJU Press for most subjects and Sonlight for reading.
BJU Press Online Academy Is Now the Homeschool Hub
One recent change is that BJU Press Online Academy has been replaced by the Homeschool Hub.
The Homeschool Hub is the central place where parents and students access lessons, schedules, grades, and course materials.
What Can You Do in the Homeschool Hub?
✔️ Stream video lessons
✔️ View assignments and schedules
✔️ Access eTextbooks and teacher resources
✔️ Take online quizzes and tests (Grade 5+)
✔️ Track grades and student progress
✔️ Generate reports and transcripts
One feature I’ve found especially useful is the parent dashboard. It allows me to quickly check completed work, view grades, and monitor progress without constantly looking over my children’s shoulders.
For families using the online version of BJU Press, the Homeschool Hub helps keep everything organised in one place.
BJU Press Spanish: A Solid Homeschool Language Option
BJU Press also offers Spanish 1, 2, and 3, making it a great choice for homeschool families looking for a structured foreign language curriculum.
Designed with a Christian worldview, this program provides high-quality instruction while allowing students to work independently.
Each course includes physical workbooks shipped to your home, along with pre-recorded video lessons led by an experienced teacher.
The lessons are engaging and interactive, keeping students interested and motivated to learn.
Pricing starts at $119 per course for Spanish 1, 2, or 3.
For a more comprehensive option, the complete elementary Spanish kit is available for $1,118, which includes additional resources like CDs, books, and hands-on materials.
Learn more about BJU Press Spanish here.
Want Help Choosing the Right Homeschool Curriculum?
If you’re still feeling overwhelmed after reading this review, you’re not alone.
Choosing curriculum is one of the biggest challenges new homeschool parents face—and it’s exactly why I created the Ultimate Homeschool Parenting Program.
Inside, I walk families through:
✔️ How to choose the right curriculum for your child
✔️ How to create a homeschool schedule that actually works
✔️ How to avoid common homeschooling mistakes
✔️ How to homeschool with more confidence and less stress
The course is designed for Christian homeschool parents who want practical guidance from someone who’s been homeschooling for years.
👉 Learn more about the Ultimate Homeschool Parenting Program here.
Or, if you’re not ready for a course yet, you can also explore my free homeschooling resources and YouTube videos below.
Prefer Free Homeschool Help?
If you’re not ready for a course, I share lots of free homeschooling advice on my How to Homeschool YouTube channel.
You’ll find videos on:
✔️ Choosing homeschool curriculum
✔️ Starting homeschooling
✔️ Homeschool schedules and routines
✔️ Teaching multiple children
✔️ Christian homeschooling
✔️ Common homeschool questions
I’ve been homeschooling for years and regularly share what’s working (and what isn’t!) in our own homeschool.
👉 You can subscribe to the channel and start with the video below…
As a teacher who is using the Bob Jones material I have been very unimpressed. The lessons throughout the pre-Civil War and Civil War era reflect a very Northern bias in the material. They make the false claim that Sherman never touched buildings, farms, or seed in his March to the Sea. This is not just incorrect it is an assault on the very traumatic history of his devastating attacks which left hundreds of farms completely devoid of all life and thousands of Southerners completely without home or work.
Further the material for the homework insists that the student write a letter explaining their opposition to Manifest Destiny. The problem is that A) It frames it as a one-sided issue namely that you must oppose it and B) It never clarifies that Manifest Destiny is a term coined by later historians and was never a named or explicitly termed policy. There are other problems but these demonstrate the type of problems encountered throughout the historical material.
At the time when I bought my curriculum the represntative never explained the difference between distant learning and regular learning???
We bought the Dvd’s and still had a hard time understanding curriculum. We bought the entire package deal $800. Not user friendly. I do not recommend.
I think is big changes but, will be greatly improved for my children’s. I feel blessed to found a Christian curriculum for my children.
What is your personal opinion on the teacher manuals? Useful, indispensable or optional?
Optional. Definitely. It depends on how confident you feel teaching without them though. Some people would find it freeing. Others would find trying to do it without the manuals scary.
So do you think the teacher manuals are essential, useful or optional?
Optional. Definitely. It depends on how confident you feel teaching without them though. Some people would find it freeing. Others would find trying to do it without the manuals scary.
Hi, I noticed that in the article it mentions that accreditation is at no additional cost. But it actually does cost more because BJU Press has the Academy of Home Education for accreditation and they have applications fees and yearly fees. Please see this page:
https://www.bjupresshomeschool.com/the-academy-of-home-education
Yes, you’re quite right. I’ve corrected that. I talked to one of the consultants about it, and they mentioned it, but i realized later it was wrong info. Thanks so much for taking the time to correct this!