Sending your child to a top-tier private school can be a terrific decision. However, it can also be an expensive one, and the high cost of private school tuition won't be dropping anytime soon.
Qualified teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, and fascinating field trips are just a few reasons why private schools are so expensive. According to a recent report, the average cost of private school is approximately $12,790 per year.
Of course, private school costs depend on the type of school and state of residence. For example, South Dakota has the lowest average at $4,212/year, while Connecticut’s $29,433/year average is the highest in the nation.
Wherever you live, private school is an investment in your child. If it’s something you’re considering, we have the private school tuition information you need. In this guide, we explore:
- Private School Costs for Preschools
- Private School Costs for Religious Schools
- Private School Costs for Day Schools
- Private School Costs for Boarding Schools
- Private School Costs for Homeschooling
- Average Private School Tuition Costs by State
- Tips to Reduce Private School Costs
Private school costs for preschools
Parents hoping to start their kids in private education right away might want to explore private preschools. Private preschools and Montessori programs prepare kids aged 3–5 for the K–12 school system.
Depending on your location, private school tuition for preschool can range anywhere from $4,000 to $13,000.
Private school costs for religious schools
As you do your research, you'll notice that many religious organizations operate private schools. These schools blend traditional, secular education with spiritual teachings.
Typically, religious private schools are more affordable than non-religious private schools. For instance, the average tuition for elementary students at a private Catholic school is $4,840 per year.
Private school costs for day schools
A non-religious day school has the same schedule as a public school. Your kids would leave in the morning and come home in the afternoon.
Just as religious private schools bring the average tuition down, non-religious day schools push the average tuition up. As per a recent report, these are the median private school costs by level:
- Elementary private school tuition – $26,800/year
- Middle grade private school tuition – $30,535/year
- High school private school tuition – $35,105/year
Private school costs for boarding schools
Because boarding schools also cover food and on-campus housing, tuition can be far more costly than day schools.
For a five-day boarding school (where kids come home on the weekends), the average annual cost is $55,425. For a seven-day boarding school, you’re looking at a yearly bill of $69,150.
Private school costs for homeschooling
Technically, homeschooling is also a form of private schooling. And just like any other private school, it comes with its own expenses.
After you factor in the school supplies, educational materials, field trips, and testing fees, you could spend $700–$1,800 per child each year.
Average private school tuition costs by state
So, how much do private schools cost in general? Ultimately, it depends on where you live. Here's the average private school tuition cost per year in all states with sufficient data as of 2024:
- Alabama – $8,289
- Alaska – $7,224
- Arizona – $10,446
- Arkansas – $6,228
- California – $16,884
- Colorado – $13,111
- Connecticut – $29,433
- Delaware – $12,734
- Florida – $10,617
- Georgia – $11,963
- Hawaii – $14,746
- Idaho – $8,980
- Illinois – $9,287
- Indiana – $7,161
- Iowa – $6,363
- Kansas – $8,044
- Kentucky – $7,129
- Louisiana – $7,849
- Maine – $22,341
- Maryland – $14,407
- Massachusetts – $26,203
- Michigan – $8,149
- Minnesota – $8,097
- Mississippi – $5,994
- Missouri – $10,673
- Montana – $9,119
- Nebraska – $4,432
- Nevada – $10,643
- New Hampshire – $21,604
- New Jersey – $15,780
- New Mexico – $8,862
- New York – $21,158
- North Carolina – $10,347
- North Dakota – $8,000 and up (data is limited)
- Ohio – $7,929
- Oklahoma – $7,432
- Oregon – $10,133
- Pennsylvania – $12,237
- Rhode Island – $16,999
- South Carolina – $8,272
- Tennessee – $11,314
- Texas – $11,050
- Utah – $10,235
- Vermont – $24,628
- Virginia – $15,116
- Washington – $13,346
- West Virginia – $6,416
- Wisconsin – $5,058
- Wyoming – $5,000 and up (data is limited)
How to lower your private school costs
No matter where you live, the cost of private school tuition can financially strain your family. Even in a low-cost state like Wisconsin, 13 years of private school tuition can total around $66,000 per child, not including preschool or post-secondary education.
If you’re seeking ways to lower your private school costs, check out these options.
Look into School Choice programs for your state
The concept of "school choice" gives parents the freedom—and the financial resources—to decide where their children go to school. Essentially, school choice programs allow parents to use the funding that would typically pay for public schooling and apply it to private school tuition and fees.
As of June 2025, 30 states (plus the District of Columbia) have at least one private school choice program that you may be able to access, with financial benefits such as:
- Vouchers
- Education savings accounts (ESA)
- Tax-credit scholarships
- Tax credits and deductions
For more information, check out our guide to navigating and maximizing school choice benefits.
Research scholarships
Consider applying for national, state, or local merit- or achievement-based scholarships to earn free money toward private school tuition or costs.
Many private schools also offer awards, especially to low-income families or students from specific demographics.
Visit your preferred private school's website to see if it offers scholarships. If there is no information, contact the school's administration to learn more about scholarships or other available financial aid options.
Start or join a RaiseRight program
While scholarships and vouchers are valuable cost-saving tools, they’re not guaranteed, can be highly competitive, and require particular criteria or a complex application process.
Luckily, there's an easy solution within reach.
RaiseRight is a tuition reduction and fundraising program that helps schools lower tuition costs and offset educational expenses for families. For over 30 years, thousands of private schools across the U.S. have relied on RaiseRight to make private education more affordable and attainable.
Simply buy and use gift cards to pay for everyday expenses, shop online at your favorite brands, or dine at participating restaurants.
Here’s how it works:
- Schools enroll with RaiseRight (it’s free to join).
- Once parents and families join the school's RaiseRight program, they can buy gift cards from hundreds of popular brands (think McDonald’s, Walmart, Starbucks, Gap, and more), shop online via affiliate links, or dine at local establishments with a linked credit or debit card.
- With each purchase, the school earns a percentage back (6% on average and up to 20%+), which they can apply to offset families' tuition costs or delegate toward other expenses, like extracurricular activities or field trips.
Many families earn $1,000 or more yearly, just by using RaiseRight wherever they shop or dine. If you're curious about how much your family could save on private school tuition with RaiseRight alone, try our free Earning Potential Calculator:
Also, the private school you’re considering may already have a RaiseRight program. If they do, you just need their unique enrollment code to join the program and start earning.
If your preferred school hasn’t partnered with RaiseRight yet, it’s not too late to start! Connect with the school’s administration or contact the individual(s) who manage fundraising or financial aid for the private school.
