Is private school cheaper in Anchorage or Billings?

Billings has lower average private school tuition at $7,700/year vs $11,900/year in Anchorage. That's $4,200/year less, or $54,600 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Billings over Anchorage?

Average tuition in Billings is $4,200/year less than Anchorage. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $54,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,900/year in Anchorage, $5,200/year in Billings.

How do Anchorage and Billings private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Anchorage averages $11,900/year ($450 below average). Billings averages $7,700/year ($4,650 below average).

Private School Cost: Anchorage vs Billings

Billings averages $4,200/year less for private school (55% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $54,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Billings is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $7,700/year vs $11,900/year in Anchorage. Religious schools run $5,200/year on the low end.

Anchorage

$11,900

avg tuition/year

$450 below national avg

Billings

$7,700

avg tuition/year

$4,650 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Anchorage	Billings	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$11,900/yr	$7,700/yr	+$4,200
Religious Schools	$7,900/yr	$5,200/yr	+$2,700
Independent/Prep	$21,500/yr	$14,900/yr	+$6,600
Elementary (K-5)	$10,100/yr	$6,500/yr	+$3,600
Middle School (6-8)	$11,900/yr	$7,700/yr	+$4,200
High School (9-12)	$14,300/yr	$9,200/yr	+$5,100

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Anchorage

$154,700

Billings

$100,100

Choosing Billings saves $54,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $109,200.

Sample Schools

Anchorage

Pacific Northern Academy

Independent · PK–12 · $14,800/yr

Holy Rosary Academy (Anchorage)

Catholic · PK–8 · $9,600-$11,800/yr

Billings

Billings Central Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,200/yr

Eagle Mount Academy (Billings)

Independent · K–12 · $8,400-$10,400/yr

Full Anchorage breakdown → Full Billings breakdown →

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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.