Average Cost of Private School [2026]: Tuition by Education Level

Report Highlights. The average cost of private school attendance from kindergarten through 4 years of postsecondary study is $307,262.

$12,790 is the average annual tuition among the nation’s 24,090 private elementary and secondary schools in 2021.
Annual tuition at an average private high school is $17,123.
The average annual tuition at a private university is $35,248.
Among the nation’s top boarding schools, the cost can reach upwards of $70,000 per year.
Among the country’s 139 private boarding schools, the average annual tuition, plus room and board, is $76,008

Average Cost of Private School - average cost of private school

Jump to a state: AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY

Average Cost of Private School - average cost of private school 2

Average Cost of Private School

Private schools are unaffiliated with any local, regional, state, or national government and do not receive public funding. Private school tuition varies depending on education level and the institution’s affiliation.

$12,790 is the average annual tuition among all private schools nationwide.
$9,210 is the average annual tuition for private elementary/ middle school students.
$16,420 is the average annual tuition for private secondary/ high school students.
Among the top 10 most expensive boarding schools in the nation, the least expensive is Deerfield Academy, with a yearly tuition of $71,800.
The most expensive boarding school is The Masters School, located in Dobbs Ferry, New York, with an annual tuition of $72,000.

Cost of Private Day School

Most private school students attend day schools. Day schools are just like traditional public schools, where students attend classes during the day before returning home for the evening. The statistics in the following sections are for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) which represents 1,358 schools.

$33,361 is the average tuition at private day schools.
Median tuition for first graders at NAIS member schools is $29,015.
Median tuition for middle school students is $33,310.
For high school students, median tuition is $38,386.
For high school seniors or grade 12 students attending such schools, $38,220 is the median cost of tuition.

Cost of Private Boarding School

There are only a few hundred boarding schools in the United States. Most of them are on the East Coast. Modern boarding schools offer room and board in addition to day school classes. As with other private schools, boarding schools tend to charge higher tuition for higher-level classes. The statistics in the following sections are for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Association of Boarding Schools which represents 139 schools.

$61,282 is the average annual tuition at 5-day boarding schools.
$76,008 is the average annual tuition at 7-day boarding schools.
For high school seniors or grade 12 students attending 7-day boarding schools, $75,838 is the median cost of tuition.

Snapshot: Private School Tuition Nationwide
School Name	Location	School Type	Tuition (Level)
Mackintosh Academy	Littleton, Colorado	$16,500 (Pre) $27,500 (K-5th grade) $28,325 (6th-8th grade)	$15,000 (Pre) $25,000 (K-5th grade) $23,750 (56th-8th grade)
St. Edward’s Catholic School	Twin Falls, Idaho	$4,351 (Pre-K) $3,698 (K-8th	$11,420 (K-5th grade) $11,700 (6th-8th grade) $11,800 (9th-11th grade)
Gesher Jewish Day School	Fairfax, Virginia	$18,000 (Pre-K) $29,250 (K-5th grade $30,300 (6th-8th grade)	$4,351 (Pre-K) $3,698 (K-8th)
Detroit Country Day School	Beverly Hills, Michigan	$27,900 (Pre) $32,330 (K-3rd grade) $32,975 (4th-5th grade) $36,325 (6th-8th grade) $40,875 (9th-12th grade)	$36,000 (9th-12th grade) Fees: $1,500 – $7,000
Arcadia Christian School	Arcadia, California	$12,200 (K-5th grade) $12,519 (6th-8th grade) $12,626 (9th-11th grade)	$5,900 (6th-12th grade)
Veritas Classical Academy	Beaumont, Texas	$5,115 (K-12th grade) Fees: $815	$26,300 (Pre) $30,500 (K-3rd grade) $31,700 (4th-5th grade) $35,600 (6th-8th grade) $39,300 (9th-12th grade)
Wilberforce School	Princeton Junction, New Jersey	$24,470 (1st-5th grade) $27,020 (6th-8th grade) $30,970 (9th-12th grade)	$22,200 (1st-5th grade) $22,800 (6th-8th grade) $28,100 (9th-12th grade)
The Maven Academy	Annapolis, Maryland	$5,900 (6th-12th grade)	$4,995 (K-12th grade) Fees: $790
The Chicago Academy for the Arts	Chicago, Illinois	$38,000 (9th-12th grade) Fees: $1,500 – $7,000	$17,136 (Pre-K) $27,850 (K-5th grade $28,850 (6th-8th grade)

Average Cost of Private School - average cost of private school 1

Private School Tuition by State, from Highest to Lowest
State	Elementary Tuition	Secondary Tuition	Average Tuition among all schools
Connecticut	$39,344	$24,960	$28,433
District Of Columbia	$35,886	$29,615	$27,957
Massachusetts	$40,829	$24,795	$26,482
Vermont	$34,737	$20,681	$23,576
Maine	$29,300	$17,936	$22,532
New York	$26,864	$22,368	$22,380
Rhode Island	$34,245	$20,884	$22,367
New Hampshire	$30,461	$14,221	$19,992
New Jersey	$23,776	$18,298	$18,822
California	$23,315	$17,474	$18,036
Virginia	$18,733	$15,561	$17,376
Maryland	$20,338	$16,016	$16,211
Delaware	$19,113	$13,726	$15,944
Hawaii	$18,597	$15,616	$15,827
Washington	$17,484	$15,417	$15,560
Pennsylvania	$19,139	$13,077	$14,807
Colorado	$16,491	$12,796	$14,550
Georgia	$14,397	$14,104	$14,192
Texas	$14,494	$13,239	$13,995
Florida	$14,564	$13,794	$13,859
Utah	$17,046	$13,273	$13,468
Tennessee	$14,516	$13,478	$13,381
North Carolina	$13,855	$12,465	$13,172
Missouri	$14,833	$12,196	$12,808
Illinois	$15,730	$10,981	$12,493
Arizona	$15,442	$11,434	$12,314
Oregon	$15,166	$11,403	$11,969
Montana	$12,105	$10,647	$11,689
Alabama	$11,597	$10,554	$11,467
Nevada	$12,880	$12,271	$11,455
Idaho	$11,681	$11,390	$11,288
Oklahoma	$12,054	$10,919	$11,157
Wyoming	$17,300	$9,995	$11,157
Mississippi	$11,358	$10,675	$10,817
Ohio	$13,201	$9,200	$10,681
South Carolina	$10,237	$10,041	$10,536
Kansas	$13,349	$9,763	$10,423
Kentucky	$9,491	$8,945	$10,387
Indiana	$11,850	$9,334	$10,330
Michigan	$13,811	$9,416	$10,249
Minnesota	$14,654	$8,799	$10,164
West Virginia	$10,182	$10,559	$10,135
Arkansas	$8,690	$9,391	$9,691
Iowa	$11,290	$9,428	$9,686
Louisiana	$11,114	$9,627	$9,659
New Mexico	$9,989	$8,690	$8,673
Nebraska	$10,878	$6,885	$7,698
Wisconsin	$11,638	$6,552	$7,545
Alaska	$7,358	$7,429	$7,019
North Dakota	$9,883	$6,025	$6,820
South Dakota	$7,985	$6,455	$6,448

Cost of Private School by State

Private schools are often unaffiliated with a centralized agency, making official data collection difficult. Among states that are not represented here, there is too little data available for meaningful statistical analysis.

The most expensive private schools are in New England.
Connecticut’s private schools have the highest average tuition.
Massachusetts is the most expensive state to send a high school student, and the third most expensive state to send an elementary school student to private school.

Cost of Private School in Alabama

Alabama’s private schools are much more affordable than those in many other states, with secondary schools charging a little more tuition than elementary schools.

$11,467 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Alabama.
$10,554 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$11,597 is the average cost of tuition at private secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $28,575 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $17,687 or 61.9% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Alaska

Alaska is the only state where elementary private education is more expensive than secondary schools.

$7,019 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Alaska.
$7,429 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$7,358 is the average cost of tuition at private secondary schools.
Alaska’s private elementary schools on average cost $71 more than secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $28,767 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $19,315 or 70.5% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Arizona

Arizona’s private secondary schools are significantly more expensive than its elementary schools.

$12,314 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Arizona.
$11,434 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$15,442 is the average cost of tuition at private secondary schools.
Secondary school costs $4,008 more than elementary school.
The average private 4-year college costs $23,661 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $13,485 or 56.99% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Arkansas

Tuition in Arkansas is significantly lower than the national average.

$9,691 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Arkansas.
$9,391 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$8,690 is the average cost of tuition at private secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $33,930 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $24,768 or 73.09% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in California

Among private elementary schools, California has some of the most expensive in the country.

$18,036 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in California.
$17,474 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$23,315 is the average cost of tuition at private secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $58,515 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $42,017 or 71.81% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Colorado

Colorado’s elementary schools are comparatively less expensive than their secondary schools.

$14,550 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Colorado.
$12,796 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$16,491 is the average cost of tuition at private secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $42,065 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $27,474 or 65.3% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Connecticut

Connecticut private schools are the most expensive in the nation. Secondary private schools cost more than twice the national average.

$28,433 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Connecticut.
$24,960 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$39,344 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
Secondary private schools charge an average of $14,384 more than elementary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $58,515 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $42,017 or 71.8% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Delaware

Elementary schools are more expensive than average, but secondary schools are considerably more affordable.

$15,944 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Delaware.
$13,726 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$19,113 is the average cost of tuition at private secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $22,978 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $12,154 or 52.9% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Florida

Florida schools are approximately equal to the national average tuition fee, with secondary schools charging significantly less than institutions nationwide.

$13,859 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Florida.
$13,794 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$14,564 is the average cost of tuition at private secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $45,156 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $30,928 or 68.5% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Georgia

Secondary schools in Georgia are less expensive than the national average.

$14,192 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Georgia.
$14,104 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$14,397 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $46,295 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $32,114 or 69.37% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Hawaii

Hawaii’s private schools are more expensive than the national average, with private elementary school tuition running significantly higher than average.

$15,827 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Hawaii.
$15,616 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$18,597 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $36,127 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $21,851 or 60.5% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Idaho

Idaho’s private schools cost less than most. The state’s secondary private schools are less expensive on average than private elementary schools nationwide.

$11,288 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Idaho.
$11,390 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$11,681 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $17,747 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $6,970 or 39.27% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Illinois

Illinois private schools are less expensive overall. The state’s most expensive schools are within the city of Chicago.

$12,493 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Illinois.
$10,981 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$15,730 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $52,234 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $37,646 or 72% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Indiana

Indiana’s private schools are some of the nation’s most affordable, with private secondary schools costing slightly more than half of the national average.

$10,330 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Indiana.
$9,334 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$11,850 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools
The average private 4-year college costs $51,403 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $37,987 or 73.90% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Iowa

Iowa’s private schools are generally lower than the national average.

$9,686 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Iowa.
$9,428 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$11,290 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $48,322 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $37,623 or 77.86% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Kansas

Kansas private schools are much more affordable on average than elsewhere in the United States.

$10,423 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Kansas.
$9,763 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$13,349 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $42,222 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $31,116 or 73.7% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Kentucky

Private school tuition in Kentucky is significantly lower than the national average. The state’s private secondary schools are especially affordable.

$10,387 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Kentucky.
$8,945 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$9,491 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $37,701 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $28,001 or 74.27% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Louisiana

Louisiana’s private schools run well below the national average in terms of cost. The most expensive private school in Louisiana is St. Marys Catholic School which costs, $45,000 for tuition.

$9,659 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Louisiana.
$9,627 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$11,114 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $59,366 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $44,485 or 74.93% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Maine

Maine has some of the most expensive secondary private schools in the nation.

$22,532 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Maine.
$17,936 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$29,300 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
Private secondary schools cost $11,364 more than elementary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $53,829 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $38,972 or 74.2% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Maryland

Maryland private schools have slightly higher tuition costs than the national average for both their elementary and secondary schools.

$16,211 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Maryland.
$16,016 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$20,338 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $64,283 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $48,240 or 75.04% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a much more expensive place to attend private school than elsewhere in the country. Average school tuition and private elementary school are in the top 3 most expensive in the country.

$26,482 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Massachusetts.
$24,795 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$40,829 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $71,563 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $53,789 or 75.16% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Michigan

Michigan’s private schools are cheaper than the average, but the state’s private elementary school tuition costs are especially low.

$10,249 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Michigan.
$9,416 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$13,811 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $44,800 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $33,385 or 74.52% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Minnesota

Minnesota’s private secondary schools are slightly lower than the average, while their primary schools are considerably cheaper.

$10,164 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Minnesota.
$8,799 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$14,654 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $47,839 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $35,914 or 75.0% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Mississippi

Mississippi’s private schools are cheaper than the national average.

$10,817 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Mississippi.
$10,675 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$11,358 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $29,234 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $20,042 or 68.56%of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Missouri

Missouri private school costs are on par with the national average.

$12,808 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Missouri.
$12,196 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$14,833 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $42,566 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $30,660 or 72.0% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Montana

Montana’s private secondary schools trend lower than the national average.

$11,689 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Montana.
$10,647 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$12,105 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $41,989 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $31,464 or 74.93% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Nebraska

The private elementary and secondary schools in Nebraska are both significantly cheaper than the national average.

$7,698 is the average tuition among elementary private schools in Nebraska.
$6,885 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$10,878 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $37,126 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $26,002 or 70.04% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Nevada

Nevada’s cost for private elementary schools is near the national average.

$11,455 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Nevada.
$12,271 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$12,880 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college tuition fee costs $24,246 per year.

Cost of Private School in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is home to some of the country’s most expensive private secondary schools.

$19,992 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in New Hampshire.
$14,221 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$30,461 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $32,945 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $19,557 or 59.36% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in New Jersey

New Jersey’s private schools are notably more expensive than the national average.

$18,822 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in New Jersey.
$18,298 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$23,776 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $55,304 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $40,366 or 73% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in New Mexico

New Mexico’s private schools are notably more affordable than the national average.

$8,673 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in New Mexico.
$8,690 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$9,989 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $39,557 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $27,340 or 69.12% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in New York

New York’s private elementary and secondary schools are much more expensive than the national average. The most expensive private school in New York is The Think Global School with a yearly cost of $94,050.

$22,380 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in New York.
$22,368 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$26,864 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $63,505 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $46,280 or 72.88% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in North Carolina

North Carolina’s private secondary schools are on par with the national average.

$13,172 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in North Carolina.
$12,465 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$13,855 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $54,084 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $40,176 or 74.28% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in North Dakota

North Dakota’s private schools are some of the most affordable in the country.

$6,820 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in North Dakota.
$6,025 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$9,883 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $25,040 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $16,990 or 67.85% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Ohio

Private schools in Ohio are relatively affordable, with secondary schools costing well below the national average tuition.

$10,681 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Ohio.
$9,200 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$13,201 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $50,457 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $37,610 or 74.54% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has the 16th most affordable private schools in the country.

$11,157 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Oklahoma.
$10,919 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$12,054 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $41,310 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $31,140 or 75.38% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Oregon

Oregon private schools cost slightly less than the average private schools nationwide.

$11,969 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Oregon.
$11,403 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$15,166 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $53,036 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $47,224 or 76.2% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s private elementary schools and secondary schools are slightly more expensive than the national average.

$14,807 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Pennsylvania.
$13,077 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$19,139 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $62,437 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $47,222 or 75.63% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s private schools are in the top ten most expensive in the nation.

$22,367 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Rhode Island.
$20,884 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$34,245 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $66,529 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $49,792 or 74.84% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in South Carolina

South Carolina’s private schools are less costly overall. The state’s private secondary schools are some of the nation’s most affordable, costing close to the same as the state’s private elementary schools.

$10,536 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in South Carolina.
$10,041 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$10,237 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $39,722 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $28,730 or 72.33% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in South Dakota

South Dakota’s private schools are the most affordable in the country.

$6,448 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in South Dakota.
$6,455 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$7,985 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $37,769 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $28,687 or 75.95% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Tennessee

Tennessee’s private schools are more affordable overall than the national average. Private elementary schools tend to be more expensive, but secondary schools are significantly less costly.

$13,381 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Tennessee.
$13,478 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$14,516 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $44,297 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $31,885 or 71.98% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Texas

Private schools in Texas are less expensive overall, with secondary schools being the most affordable. Private elementary school tuition is higher than the national average.

$13,995 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Texas.
$13,239 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$14,494 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $52,835 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $40,142 or 75.98% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Utah

Utah’s private schools are on par with the national average.

$13,468 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Utah.
$13,273 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$17,046 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $16,970 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $8,123 or 47.87% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Vermont

Vermont’s private schools are among the nation’s most expensive. Secondary schools are more than twice as costly as the nationwide average.

$23,576 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Vermont.
$20,681 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$34,737 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $65,793 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $50,094 or 76.14% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Virginia

Virginia’s private elementary and secondary schools are more expensive than the national average with the private elementary school tuition being especially pricey.

$17,376 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Virginia.
$15,561 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$18,733 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $36,434 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $24,043 or 65.99% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Washington

Washington’s private elementary and secondary schools are slightly more expensive than the national average.

$15,560 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Washington.
$15,417 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$17,484 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $56,492 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $42,339 or 74.95% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in West Virginia

West Virginia’s private schools are lower than the national average, and is one of three states where secondary school is cheaper than elementary.

$10,135 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in West Virginia.
$10,559 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$10,182 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $22,576 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $12,133 or 53.74% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has the fourth lowest tuition for private elementary schools nationwide.

$7,545 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Wisconsin.
$6,552 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$11,638 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
The average private 4-year college costs $50,009 per year including room and board.
Tuition and required fees average $37,686 or 75.36% of the total annual cost of attendance.

Cost of Private School in Wyoming

Wyoming’s secondary private schools are on par with the national average, but its elementary schools are cheape.

$11,157 is the average tuition among all K-12 private schools in Wyoming.
$9,995 is the average cost of tuition at private elementary schools.
$17,300 is the average cost of tuition at secondary schools.
$36,500 is the cost of tuition at Jackson Hole Community School, for Grades 9 through 12, in Jackson.
$7,400 is the K through Grade 12 tuition rate for non-church members at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Cheyenne.

Average Cost of Private School - average cost of private school 4

Cost of Private Postsecondary School

Most private colleges or private universities are non-profit institutions; this data is for nonprofit schools unless otherwise noted.

The average traditional private university student spends a total of $54,214 per academic year.
Tuition and fees are $38,485 or 71% of the total annual cost.
A degree from an average private university costs $216,856.
The cost of attendance at private 4-year colleges increased 19% between 2010 and 2020.

Analysis: Rising College Preparatory Costs

For students who aspire to postsecondary education, the price of that education combined with alarming trends in student loan debt and college dropout rates may influence increased financial focus on secondary education. The popular opinion – echoed at Harvard, Princeton, and the U.S. Department of Education – is that private schools improve a student’s chances of college acceptance and scholarship awards.

Given that parents pay for an average 40% of students’ academic costs, families may consider private and college preparatory school a wise investment. Further, financial pressure, academic disqualification, and stress are cited as reasons for over two-thirds of college dropouts. The conventional wisdom states that private high schools geared toward college transition prepare students to deal with the issues that lead to poor academic performance and dropouts.

Student Financial Aid for Private School

There is student financial aid available for private school attendees similar to the aid available to college students. Sometimes a parent’s status may make a student eligible for aid or discounts. Some schools offer discounts to veterans and members of the military. The statistics in the following sections are for the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) which represents 1,358 schools.

A median of 26.4% of school students receive some form of financial aid at NAIS member schools.
Among students who receive financial aid in the form of grants, $22,308 is the median award per recipient.
For students in boarding school, $35,287 is the average grant award per individual.
36.3% of students enrolled in boarding schools receive some form of financial aid.