PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Augusta vs Missoula

Missoula averages $1,900/year less for private school (24% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $24,700 per child.

Bottom Line

Missoula is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $8,000/year vs $9,900/year in Augusta. Religious schools run $5,400/year on the low end.

Augusta

GA

$9,900

avg tuition/year

$2,450 below national avg

Missoula

MT

$8,000

avg tuition/year

$4,350 below national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Augusta Missoula Difference
All Schools (Average) $9,900/yr $8,000/yr +$1,900
Religious Schools $6,900/yr $5,400/yr +$1,500
Independent/Prep $20,100/yr $15,500/yr +$4,600
Elementary (K-5) $8,400/yr $6,800/yr +$1,600
Middle School (6-8) $9,900/yr $8,000/yr +$1,900
High School (9-12) $11,900/yr $9,600/yr +$2,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Augusta

$128,700

Missoula

$104,000

Choosing Missoula saves $24,700 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $49,400.

Sample Schools

Augusta

Augusta Preparatory Day School

Independent · PK–12 · $17,400/yr

Aquinas High School (Augusta)

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,200/yr

Missoula

Loyola Sacred Heart High School (Missoula)

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,200/yr

Montana Academy (Missoula area)

Independent (Therapeutic) · 9–12 · $44,800-$52,000/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.