Private schools are a compelling alternative to public schools. They offer specialized programs, rigorous curricula, and other benefits, but these benefits come at extra costs.
On average, private school tuition may cost between $10,000 and $20,000 annually, while public schools have no tuition costs. In addition to these tuition costs, parents also need to pay for extracurricular activities, school supplies, uniforms, admission fees, registration, etc.
However, students can use financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and more, to pay for school. Some parents also take out loans or take advantage of school discounts.
Let’s take a look at further details about the average cost of private schools, a breakdown of costs by grade level, school type, and state.
Average Cost of Private School 2024: In A Nutshell
- Private schools cost an average of $10,000 to $20,000 per year.
- The average cost of attending private schools from kindergarten to postsecondary was $312,026 in 2023.
- The average tuition for private elementary schools is $5,000 to $15,000 annually.
- The average tuition cost for secondary private schools is $11,000 to $30,000 per year.
- Catholic private schools cost an average of $3,500 to $13,000 annually.
- 7-day private boarding schools may cost $50,000 to $70,000, while 5-day private boarding schools cost $40,000 to $60,000 annually.
- The average cost of private school tuition is the highest in Connecticut at $28,894.
- Nebraska has the lowest average private tuition in the United States, at $4,857 annually.
How Much Does Private School Cost?
According to Tutors.com, private schools cost an average of $10,000 to $20,000 annually.
Hence, the average cost of attending private schools can be $800 to $1700 per month, depending on the grade level, school type, state, and other factors.
Further, according to educationdata.org, the average cost of attending private schools from kindergarten to 4 years of postsecondary study was $312,026 in 2023.
Source: Tutors.com, Education Data.
Average Cost Of Private School By Level
On average, private preschool may cost the parents between $4,000 and $13,000 per year, or the average monthly cost is $400 to $13,000.
At the same time, private K-12 schools in the United States cost between $10,000 to $20,000 per year, and studying in grades 7th to 12th in private schools may cost $900 to $2,500 per month.
Note that this cost may vary depending on the institute, state, type of school, and more.
Here is a table displaying the average cost of private schools by grade level.
| Grade Level | Average Cost Per Month | Average Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool | $400 – $13,000 | $4,000 – $13,000 |
| K-12 | $800 – $1,700 | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Primary/Elementary (grades 1 – 6) | $400 – $1,300 | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Secondary/middle & high school (grades 7 – 12) | $900 – $2,500 | $11,000 – $30,000 |
Source: Tutors.com
Private School Tuition Cost By Type
The cost of private schools may vary greatly depending upon the type. Homeschooling through a private tutor may cost the most, while catholic schools may cost the least.
Here is a table displays the average tuition cost of private schools by type:
| Private School Type | Average Cost (Per Year) |
|---|---|
| Catholic school | $3,500 to $13,000 |
| Day school | $10,000 to $20,000 |
| Boarding school (5-day) | $40,000 to $60,000 |
| Boarding school (7-day) | $50,000 to $70,000 |
| 4-year private college (includes room & board) | $30,000 to $55,000 |
| Homeschool with private teacher | $4,000 to $8,000 per month |
Source: Tutors.com.
Catholic Private Schools
Catholic Private schools cost between $3,500 to $13,000 per year.
Most Catholic schools have lower tuition rates than other private schools in the country. Additionally, many catholic schools further reduce tuition costs for families with multiple children.
However, private catholic school tuition may cost more for families that are not a parish member.
According to US News, the average tuition for private Catholic elementary schools nationwide in 2023 was $4,840. Comparatively, the average tuition for other private Catholic elementary schools was $11,207.
Meanwhile, the average tuition for the secondary Catholic schools was $11,240 in the same year, while other private secondary schools had a tuition of $16,645.
Source: Tutors.com, US News.
Private Day Schools
On average, Private Day schools cost between $10,000 to $20,000 annually.
Private Day schools are just like public schools, where students attend most of their classes during the day. These schools may be co-ed, all-girls, or all-boys.
According to educationdata.org, the average tuition at private day schools is $29,653.
The median tuition for first graders in a private day school in the country is $25,740, while the median tuition for middle school is $33,882.
Private day schools that are members of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) usually have higher tuition costs than non-members. Hence, the median annual cost of a private day school with an NAIS membership is $29,653.
Source: Tutors.com, Education Data.
Private Boarding Schools
Attending a private boarding school in the United States may cost between $50,000 and over $70,000 per year for a 7-day boarding school.
On the other hand, the 5-day boarding school may cost $40,000 to $60,000 per year.
Private boarding school tuition usually covers the cost of boarding, classes, and meals. However, students may require additional funds to cover the cost of books, laundry, school supplies, and other daily necessities.
According to educationdata.org, the average annual cost of attending a 7-day boarding school in the country is $67,270, while the average cost of attending a 5-day boarding school in the country is $53,350.
On average, 10.8% of the students enrolled in private schools study in boarding schools.
Source: Tutors.com, Education Data.
Private Homeschool Cost
Hiring a full-time private homeschool teacher in the United States may cost between $4,000 and $8,000 monthly. At the same time, a part-time private homeschool teacher may cost $400 to $3,000 per month.
Further, the cost of joining a learning group for semi-private homeschooling is $1,300 to $4,000 per month. The cost may vary according to the number of students enrolled and the number of families splitting teachers’ salaries.
Source: Tutors.com.
Cost Of Private School Tuition Nationwide By Grade Level And School Type
Here is a table displaying the average tuition cost of selected private schools nationwide by school type and grade level.
| School Name | Tuition Cost By Level | School Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackintosh Academy | $13,800 (Pre) $23,000 (K-4th grade) $23,550 (5th-8th grade) | Independent Elementary | Littleton, Colorado |
| Arcadia Christian School | $10,870 (K-5th grade) $11,140 (6th-8th grade) $11,220 (9th-11th grade) | Christian Elementary | Arcadia, California |
| St. Edward’s Catholic School | $4,224 (Pre-K) $3,900 (K-6) | Catholic Elementary | Twin Falls, Idaho |
| The Chicago Academy for the Arts | $34,975 (9th-12th grade) Fees: $4,000 | Independent Secondary | Chicago, Illinois |
| The Maven Academy | $5,900 (6th-12th grade) | Independent Secondary | Annapolis, Maryland |
| Detroit Country Day School | $24,680 (Pre) $29,110 (K-3rd grade) $29,800 (4th-5th grade) $34,530 (6th-8th grade) $37,600 (9th-12th grade) | Independent Primary | Beverly Hills, Michigan |
| Wilberforce School | $19,445 (1st-5th grade) $19,980 (6th-8th grade) $24,600 (9th-12th grade) | Christian Primary | Princeton Junction, New Jersey |
| Veritas Classical Academy | $4,795 (K-12th grade) Fees: $950 | Independent Primary | Beaumont, Texas |
| Gesher Jewish Day School | $16,320 (Pre-K) $26,380 (K-5th grade) $27,380 (6th-8th grade) | Jewish Primary | Fairfax, Virginia |
Source: Education Data.
Average Private School Tuition Cost By State
The average cost of private school tuition is the highest in Connecticut at $28,894.
The average cost of attending a private elementary school in the state is $23,260, while the average secondary tuition is $41,711.
Massachusetts and Vermont have the second and third-highest average tuition in private schools at $25,061 and $23,933 per year, respectively.
Maine, New York, and New Hampshire are other states with the highest tuition fees in the United States.
The following table displays the states with the highest average tuition fees in private schools.
| State | Average Tuition fees | Elementary Tuition | Secondary Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $28,894 | $23,260 | $41,711 |
| Massachusetts | $25,061 | $22,069 | $36,907 |
| Vermont | $23,933 | $19,089 | $33,302 |
| Maine | $22,421 | $16,310 | $30,059 |
| New York | $21,053 | $21,271 | $27,330 |
| New Hampshire | $20,781 | $12,983 | $30,041 |
| California | $16,637 | $15,798 | $21,842 |
| Rhode Island | $16,254 | $13,644 | $27,082 |
| New Jersey | $15,215 | $14,897 | $19,507 |
| Virginia | $15,087 | $13,560 | $17,555 |
Source: Education data.
Nebraska has the lowest average private tuition in the United States, at $4,857 per year.
The average elementary tuition for private schools in the state is $4,432, while the average tuition for secondary classes is $9,043.
Wisconsin has the second-lowest tuition for private schools in the United States. The state’s average private tuition is $5,036, while the state’s private elementary and secondary tuition is $4,470 and $9,442, respectively.
Lowa, Mississippi, and Arkansas are other states with low private tuition fees.
Here is a table displaying the states with the lowest private school tuition in the United States.
| State | Average Tuition fees | Elementary Tuition | Secondary Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | $4,857 | $4,432 | $9,043 |
| Wisconsin | $5,036 | $4,470 | $9,442 |
| Lowa | $5,542 | $4,989 | $8,741 |
| Mississippi | $5,958 | $5,854 | $6,426 |
| Arkansas | $6,056 | $6,010 | $6,962 |
| West Virginia | $6,230 | $6,418 | $6,673 |
| Louisiana | $6,550 | $6,180 | $6,930 |
| Oklahoma | $6,970 | $7,091 | $8,095 |
| Alaska | $7,224 | $7,316 | $6,881 |
| Kentucky | $7,255 | $7,014 | $8,226 |
| Indiana | $7,307 | $5,924 | $10,009 |
Source: Education data.
Additional Costs In Private Schools
Attending college schools may cost more than the actual tuition costs. There are additional costs that the parents may have to pay while enrolling their child into a private school.
These additional costs may vary according to schools, state, facilities provided, etc.
Here are some of the common additional costs that private schools may charge.
- Admissions
- Registration fees
- Textbooks cost
- Uniforms
- Transportation
- Meal plans
- Technology fees
- Field trips
- Testing Fees
- Extracurricular Activities (Sports, music, and other activities)
- Yearbooks
- Graduation fees
- International Students
Financial Aid For Private School Tuition
Paying private school tuition can be difficult without financial assistance. Hence, private schools offer different types of financial help and scholarships that help a number of scholar students to complete their education.
Over one-fourth of the private school students receive some kind of financial help. The average financial aid received per scholar is $20,121.
Besides, 34.1% of students enrolled in private schools receive financial aid through some grant or scholarship.
Source: Education data.
Conclusion: Private Schools Cost An Average Of $10,000 To $20,000
The cost of private schools may vary according to the grade level, location, and school type (religious vs. non-religious, boarding vs. day).
However, on average, private school tuition ranges between $800 and $1700 per month, and the total costs include other additional fees like admission costs, registration, uniforms, transportation, meal plans, technology fees, field trips, etc.
That was all about private schools’ cost.
