Is private school cheaper in Austin or Riverside?

Riverside has lower average private school tuition at $14,900/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. That's $600/year less, or $7,800 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Riverside is $600/year less than Austin. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $7,800 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,400/year in Austin, $9,700/year in Riverside.

How do Austin and Riverside 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). Riverside averages $14,900/year ($2,550 above average).

Private School Cost: Austin vs Riverside

Riverside averages $600/year less for private school (4% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $7,800 per child.

Bottom Line

Riverside is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,900/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. Religious schools run $9,400/year on the low end.

Austin

$15,500

avg tuition/year

$3,150 above national avg

Riverside

$14,900

avg tuition/year

$2,550 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Austin	Riverside	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$15,500/yr	$14,900/yr	+$600
Religious Schools	$9,400/yr	$9,700/yr	-$300
Independent/Prep	$28,200/yr	$29,000/yr	-$800
Elementary (K-5)	$12,800/yr	$12,700/yr	+$100
Middle School (6-8)	$15,500/yr	$14,900/yr	+$600
High School (9-12)	$19,200/yr	$17,900/yr	+$1,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Austin

$201,500

Riverside

$193,700

Choosing Riverside saves $7,800 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $15,600.

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

Riverside

Notre Dame High School (Riverside)

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr

Riverside Christian School

Christian · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

Full Austin breakdown → Full Riverside breakdown →

Texas private school costs California 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.