Average Private School Tuition

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Report Highlights

  • Private School Tuition for the 2020-2021 school year ranged from $3,554 to $38,105 nationwide.
  • The overall average, nationwide, for private school tuition for the 2020-2021 school year was $12,350.
  • The least expensive private schools, on average, are elementary schools in South Dakota at $3,597 per year.
  • The most expensive private school, on average, are high schools in Connecticut at $38,105 per year.

private school tuition

Private School Tuition by School Type

The average private school tuition varies according to many factors, one of which is the type of private school.

Based on data collected in 2011-2012 and projected to 2020 dollars:

  • The average cost of private Catholic elementary schools was $5,330 per year.
  • The average cost of private Catholic high schools was $9,790 per year.
  • The average cost of private religious elementary schools other than Catholic schools was $7,960 per year.
  • The average cost of private religious high schools other than Catholic schools was $16,520 per year.
  • The average cost of private non-sectarian elementary schools was $18,120 per year.
  • The average cost of private non-sectarian high schools was $25,180 per year.

Private School versus Public School Tuition

  • In 42 states, the cost per student was actually lower in private schools than it was for the public schools in those states.
  • This means that in more than 80% of the U.S., the cost per student was higher in public schools than it was in private schools.

Private School Attendance Statistics

  • Approximately 10% of U.S. schools are private schools
  • Approximately 25% of U.S. students go to private schools
  • 87% of private schools have less than 300 students.
  • 78% of private school students attend a religious private schools, while 22% of private school students attend non-religious private schools.
  • Of families that earn at least $75,000 per year, only 11% send their children only to private schools, compared to 87% who send their children only to public schools.

Private Boarding School Average Tuition Statistics

  • The average cost of 5-day boarding schools was $33,140 per year.
  • The average cost of 7-day boarding schools was $37,590.
  • Boarding students make up 5.9% of private school attendees.

Average Private School Tuition by State

The following figures are for the 2020-2021 school year.

Alabama

  • The average elementary school tuition in Alabama was $7,289.
  • The average high school tuition in Alabama was $7,687.

Alaska

  • The average elementary school tuition in Alaska was $7,003.
  • The average high school tuition in Alaska was $5,999.

Arizona

  • The average elementary school tuition in Arizona was $9,658.
  • The average high school tuition in Arizona was $15,638.

Arkansas

  • The average elementary school tuition in Arkansas was $6,071.
  • The average high school tuition in Arkansas was $7,098.

California

  • The average elementary school tuition in California was $14,410.
  • The average high school tuition in California was $20,840.

Colorado

  • The average elementary school tuition in Colorado was $10,907.
  • The average high school tuition in Colorado was $15,623.

Connecticut

  • The average elementary school tuition in Connecticut was $23,113.
  • The average high school tuition in Connecticut was $38,105.
  • Connecticut ranked as the state with the #1 most expensive state for average private school tuition in the U.S.

District of Columbia

  • The average elementary school tuition in the District of Columbia was $26,533.
  • The average high school tuition in District of Columbia was $29,688.
  • The District of Columbia was ranked as the 2nd most expensive state for average private school tuition in the U.S.

Delaware

  • The average elementary school tuition in Delaware was $10,486.
  • The average high school tuition in Delaware was $11,825.

Florida

  • The average elementary school tuition in Florida was $9,397.
  • The average high school tuition in Florida was $10,424

Georgia

  • The average elementary school tuition in Georgia was $10,796.
  • The average high school tuition in Georgia was $11,786.

Hawaii

  • The average elementary school tuition in Hawaii was $13,467.
  • The average high school tuition in Hawaii was $16,252.

Idaho

  • The average elementary school tuition in Idaho was $8,223.
  • The average high school tuition in Idaho was $7,576.

Illinois

  • The average elementary school tuition in Illinois was $7,585.
  • The average high school tuition in Illinois was $12,234.

Indiana

  • The average elementary school tuition in Indiana was $5,491.
  • The average high school tuition in Indiana was $10,056

Iowa

  • The average elementary school tuition in Iowa was $4,616.
  • The average high school tuition in Iowa was $9,202.

Kansas

  • The average elementary school tuition in Kansas was $6,993.
  • The average high school tuition in Kansas was $10,608.

Kentucky

  • The average elementary school tuition in Kentucky was $6,910.
  • The average high school tuition in Kentucky was $8,072.

Louisiana

  • The average elementary school tuition in Louisiana was $7,145.
  • The average high school tuition in Louisiana was $8,615.

Maine

  • The average elementary school tuition in Maine was $15,216.
  • The average high school tuition in Maine was $30,795.
  • Maine was ranked as the 3rd most expensive state for average private school tuition.

Maryland

  • The average elementary school tuition in Maryland was $12,609.
  • The average high school tuition in Maryland was $16,680.

Massachusetts

  • The average elementary school tuition in Massachusetts was $19,366.
  • The average high school tuition in Massachusetts was $33,672.
  • Massachusetts was ranked as the 5th most expensive state for average private school tuition.

Michigan

  • The average elementary school tuition in Michigan was $6,143.
  • The average high school tuition in Michigan was $10,825.

Minnesota

  • The average elementary school tuition in Minnesota was $6,765.
  • The average high school tuition in Minnesota was $11,927.

Mississippi

  • The average elementary school tuition in Mississippi was $5,554.
  • The average high school tuition in Mississippi was $6,337.

Missouri

  • The average elementary school tuition in Missouri was $9,807.
  • The average high school tuition in Missouri was $11,712.

Montana

  • The average elementary school tuition in Montana was $8,050.
  • The average high school tuition in Montana was $8,117.

Nebraska

  • The average elementary school tuition in Nebraska was $3,554.
  • The average high school tuition in Nebraska was $7,798.
  • Nebraska ranked as the state with the 2nd least expensive average private school tuition in the U.S.

Nevada

  • The average elementary school tuition in Nevada was $10,526.
  • The average high school tuition in Nevada was $12,011.

New Hampshire

  • The average elementary school tuition in New Hampshire was $11,320.
  • The average high school tuition in New Hampshire was $28,897.

New Jersey

  • The average elementary school tuition in New Jersey was $13,778.
  • The average high school tuition in New Jersey was $18,637.

New Mexico

  • The average elementary school tuition in New Mexico was $9,001.
  • The average high school tuition in New Mexico was $10,388.

New York

  • The average elementary school tuition in New York was $19,317.
  • The average high school tuition in New York was $25,108.

North Carolina

  • The average elementary school tuition in North Carolina was $9,120.
  • The average high school tuition in North Carolina was $10,160.

North Dakota

  • The average elementary school tuition in North Dakota was $4,010.
  • The average high school tuition in North Dakota was not available.

Ohio

  • The average elementary school tuition in Ohio was $6,733.
  • The average high school tuition in Ohio was $10,358.

Oklahoma

  • The average elementary school tuition in Oklahoma was $6,474.
  • The average high school tuition in Oklahoma was $7,452.

Oregon

  • The average elementary school tuition in Oregon was $8,907.
  • The average high school tuition in Oregon was $12,175.

Pennsylvania

  • The average elementary school tuition in Pennsylvania was $10,613.
  • The average high school tuition in Pennsylvania was $16,671.

Rhode Island

  • The average elementary school tuition in Rhode Island was $13,125.
  • The average high school tuition in Rhode Island was $26,663.

South Carolina

  • The average elementary school tuition in South Carolina was $7,110.
  • The average high school tuition in South Carolina was $7,211.

South Dakota

  • The average elementary school tuition in South Dakota was $3,597.
  • The average high school tuition in South Dakota was not available.
  • South Dakota ranked as the state with the #1 least expensive average private school tuition, overall, in the U.S.

Tennessee

  • The average elementary school tuition in Tennessee was $10,226.
  • The average high school tuition in Tennessee was $7,607.

Texas

  • The average elementary school tuition in Texas was $9,626.
  • The average high school tuition in Texas was $11,056.

Utah

  • The average elementary school tuition in Utah was $11,118.
  • The average high school tuition in Utah was $12,808.

Vermont

  • The average elementary school tuition in Vermont was $17,671.
  • The average high school tuition in Vermont was $32,117.
  • Vermont was ranked as the 4th most expensive state for average private school tuition.

Virginia

  • The average elementary school tuition in Virginia was $12,768.
  • The average high school tuition in Virginia was $16,359.

Washington

  • The average elementary school tuition in Washington was $11,934.
  • The average high school tuition in Washington was $13,981.

West Virginia

  • The average elementary school tuition in West Virginia was $6,089.
  • The average high school tuition in West Virginia was $6,809.

Wisconsin

  • The average elementary school tuition in Wisconsin was $3,998.
  • The average high school tuition in Wisconsin was $8,370.
  • Wisconsin ranked as the state with the 3rd least expensive average private school tuition in the U.S.

Wyoming

  • The average elementary school tuition in Wyoming was $3,665.
  • The average high school tuition in Wyoming was not available.

Resources

  1. Private School Review
  2. U.S. Public Education Spending Statistics
  3. USNews.com How Much Does Private School Cost?
  4. Digest of Education Private Elementary and Secondary Enrollment
  5. NCES Private and Public School Comparison
  6. 42 States Where Private School Costs Less Than Public School
  7. Census.gov Public Elementary-Secondary Finance Data
  8. Council for American Private Education
  9. 50 Best Private Day Schools in the United States
  10. Education Data Initiative Average Cost of Private School

 

 

 

 

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