Is private school cheaper in Austin or Nashville?

Nashville has lower average private school tuition at $14,200/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. That's $1,300/year less, or $16,900 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Nashville is $1,300/year less than Austin. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $16,900 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,400/year in Austin, $8,800/year in Nashville.

How do Austin and Nashville 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). Nashville averages $14,200/year ($1,850 above average).

Private School Cost: Austin vs Nashville

Nashville averages $1,300/year less for private school (9% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $16,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Nashville is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,200/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. Religious schools run $8,800/year on the low end.

Austin

$15,500

avg tuition/year

$3,150 above national avg

Nashville

$14,200

avg tuition/year

$1,850 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Austin	Nashville	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$15,500/yr	$14,200/yr	+$1,300
Religious Schools	$9,400/yr	$8,800/yr	+$600
Independent/Prep	$28,200/yr	$26,500/yr	+$1,700
Elementary (K-5)	$12,800/yr	$11,600/yr	+$1,200
Middle School (6-8)	$15,500/yr	$14,200/yr	+$1,300
High School (9-12)	$19,200/yr	$17,500/yr	+$1,700

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Austin

$201,500

Nashville

$184,600

Choosing Nashville saves $16,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $33,800.

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

Nashville

Montgomery Bell Academy

Independent · 7–12 · $29,400/yr

Harpeth Hall School

Independent · 5–12 · $28,800/yr

University School of Nashville

Independent · K–12 · $26,200/yr

Father Ryan High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $16,800/yr

Full Austin breakdown → Full Nashville breakdown →

Texas private school costs Tennessee private school costs

Related Comparisons

Houston vs Austin → Dallas vs Austin → Austin vs San Antonio → Nashville vs Atlanta →

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.