PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Anchorage vs Honolulu

Anchorage averages $8,300/year less for private school (70% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $107,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Anchorage is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,900/year vs $20,200/year in Honolulu. Religious schools run $7,900/year on the low end.

Anchorage

AK

$11,900

avg tuition/year

$450 below national avg
Lower cost

Honolulu

HI

$20,200

avg tuition/year

$7,850 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Anchorage Honolulu Difference
All Schools (Average) $11,900/yr $20,200/yr -$8,300
Religious Schools $7,900/yr $12,900/yr -$5,000
Independent/Prep $21,500/yr $37,600/yr -$16,100
Elementary (K-5) $10,100/yr $17,200/yr -$7,100
Middle School (6-8) $11,900/yr $20,200/yr -$8,300
High School (9-12) $14,300/yr $24,200/yr -$9,900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Anchorage

$154,700

Honolulu

$262,600

Choosing Anchorage saves $107,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $215,800.

Sample Schools

Anchorage

Pacific Northern Academy

Independent · PK–12 · $14,800/yr

Holy Rosary Academy (Anchorage)

Catholic · PK–8 · $9,600-$11,800/yr

Honolulu

Punahou School

Independent · K–12 · $27,400/yr

Iolani School

Independent (Episcopal) · K–12 · $24,800/yr

Saint Louis School (Honolulu)

Catholic · 9–12 · $13,800/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.