Morning Business Report: More states requiring personal finance classes as part of high school graduation

Growing number of states are making personal finance education a requirement for high school graduation.

(LILAMAX)-  Growing number of states are making personal finance education a requirement for high school graduation, as educators push to better prepare students for real-world financial decisions.

An analysis by the Center for Financial Literacy at Champlain College found that by 2031, 29 states and the District of Columbia will require a personal finance course.

That would mean about 73% of public high school students — roughly 11.3 million — will be enrolled in what the group calls a “grade A” financial literacy course. These classes typically include at least 60 hours of instruction covering topics like saving, investing, budgeting, and credit.

That marks a significant increase from just 11% of students in 2023, when about 1.7 million students were required to take such a course. In 2025, that number has already grown to more than 2.3 million students, or about 15% nationwide.

As more schools adopt these requirements, educators are focusing on hands-on learning to help students better understand how money works in real life.

Courses often include lessons on saving and investing, along with practical topics like taxes — including how they work, why they exist, and how deductions impact income.

Experts say these classes can have long-term benefits. Research shows students who take financial literacy courses are more likely to make better credit and borrowing decisions later in life.

Educators also emphasize that these programs are especially important for students who may not learn financial skills at home.

With more states adding requirements each year, financial literacy is quickly becoming a standard part of a high school education — with the goal of helping young people avoid costly mistakes and build strong financial habits early.