Is private school cheaper in Bellevue or Joliet?

Joliet has lower average private school tuition at $12,100/year vs $18,600/year in Bellevue. That's $6,500/year less, or $84,500 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Joliet over Bellevue?

Average tuition in Joliet is $6,500/year less than Bellevue. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $84,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $12,700/year in Bellevue, $7,600/year in Joliet.

How do Bellevue and Joliet private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Bellevue averages $18,600/year ($6,250 above average). Joliet averages $12,100/year ($250 below average).

Private School Cost: Bellevue vs Joliet

Joliet averages $6,500/year less for private school (54% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $84,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Joliet is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $12,100/year vs $18,600/year in Bellevue. Religious schools run $7,600/year on the low end.

Bellevue

$18,600

avg tuition/year

$6,250 above national avg

Joliet

$12,100

avg tuition/year

$250 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Bellevue	Joliet	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$18,600/yr	$12,100/yr	+$6,500
Religious Schools	$12,700/yr	$7,600/yr	+$5,100
Independent/Prep	$39,700/yr	$27,900/yr	+$11,800
Elementary (K-5)	$15,800/yr	$10,300/yr	+$5,500
Middle School (6-8)	$18,600/yr	$12,100/yr	+$6,500
High School (9-12)	$22,300/yr	$14,500/yr	+$7,800

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Bellevue

$241,800

Joliet

$157,300

Choosing Joliet saves $84,500 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $169,000.

Sample Schools

Bellevue

The Overlake School

Independent · 5–12 · $37,800/yr

Bellevue Christian School

Christian · PK–12 · $14,200/yr

Bellarmine Preparatory School (Tacoma)

Catholic · 9–12 · $18,400/yr

Joliet

Joliet Catholic Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,800/yr

Plainfield Academy

Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/yr

Full Bellevue breakdown → Full Joliet breakdown →

Washington private school costs Illinois private school costs

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.