Is private school cheaper in Austin or Little Rock?

Little Rock has lower average private school tuition at $6,600/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. That's $8,900/year less, or $115,700 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Little Rock over Austin?

Average tuition in Little Rock is $8,900/year less than Austin. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $115,700 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,400/year in Austin, $5,000/year in Little Rock.

How do Austin and Little Rock private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Austin averages $15,500/year ($3,150 above average). Little Rock averages $6,600/year ($5,750 below average).

Private School Cost: Austin vs Little Rock

Little Rock averages $8,900/year less for private school (135% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $115,700 per child.

Bottom Line

Little Rock is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $6,600/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. Religious schools run $5,000/year on the low end.

Austin

$15,500

avg tuition/year

$3,150 above national avg

Little Rock

$6,600

avg tuition/year

$5,750 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Austin	Little Rock	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$15,500/yr	$6,600/yr	+$8,900
Religious Schools	$9,400/yr	$5,000/yr	+$4,400
Independent/Prep	$28,200/yr	$13,100/yr	+$15,100
Elementary (K-5)	$12,800/yr	$5,600/yr	+$7,200
Middle School (6-8)	$15,500/yr	$6,600/yr	+$8,900
High School (9-12)	$19,200/yr	$7,900/yr	+$11,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Austin

$201,500

Little Rock

$85,800

Choosing Little Rock saves $115,700 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $231,400.

Sample Schools

Austin

St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Austin)

Independent · PK–12 · $32,800-$35,400/yr

Austin Preparatory School

Catholic · 6–12 · $14,200/yr

St. Michael's Catholic Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $15,800/yr

Hyde Park Baptist School

Christian · PK–12 · $13,400-$15,200/yr

Little Rock

Pulaski Academy (Little Rock)

Independent · PK–12 · $11,800/yr

Mount St. Mary Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $11,200/yr

Full Austin breakdown → Full Little Rock breakdown →

Texas private school costs Arkansas private school costs

Related Comparisons

Houston vs Austin → Dallas vs Austin → Austin vs San Antonio → Austin vs Raleigh →

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.