Private School Cost: Abilene vs Fayetteville
Fayetteville averages $700/year less for private school (8% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $9,100 per child.
Bottom Line
Fayetteville is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,000/year vs $9,700/year in Abilene. Religious schools run $6,300/year on the low end.
Abilene
TX
$9,700
avg tuition/year
Fayetteville
NC
$9,000
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Abilene | Fayetteville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $9,700/yr | $9,000/yr | +$700 |
| Religious Schools | $6,600/yr | $6,300/yr | +$300 |
| Independent/Prep | $20,600/yr | $18,900/yr | +$1,700 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $8,200/yr | $7,700/yr | +$500 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $9,700/yr | $9,000/yr | +$700 |
| High School (9-12) | $11,600/yr | $10,800/yr | +$800 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Abilene
$126,100
Fayetteville
$117,000
Choosing Fayetteville saves $9,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $18,200.
Sample Schools
Abilene
Wylie Academy (Abilene)
Christian · K–12 · $8,800-$11,200/yr
St. Joseph School (Abilene)
Catholic · K–8 · $7,400-$9,000/yr
Fayetteville
Cape Fear Academy (Wilmington)
Independent · PK–12 · $16,400/yr
Fayetteville Christian School
Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/yr
About This Comparison
This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.
Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.