Is private school cheaper in Bellevue or Riverside?

Riverside has lower average private school tuition at $14,900/year vs $18,600/year in Bellevue. That's $3,700/year less, or $48,100 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Riverside is $3,700/year less than Bellevue. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $48,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $12,700/year in Bellevue, $9,700/year in Riverside.

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

Private School Cost: Bellevue vs Riverside

Riverside averages $3,700/year less for private school (25% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $48,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Riverside is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,900/year vs $18,600/year in Bellevue. Religious schools run $9,700/year on the low end.

Bellevue

$18,600

avg tuition/year

$6,250 above national avg

Riverside

$14,900

avg tuition/year

$2,550 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Bellevue	Riverside	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$18,600/yr	$14,900/yr	+$3,700
Religious Schools	$12,700/yr	$9,700/yr	+$3,000
Independent/Prep	$39,700/yr	$29,000/yr	+$10,700
Elementary (K-5)	$15,800/yr	$12,700/yr	+$3,100
Middle School (6-8)	$18,600/yr	$14,900/yr	+$3,700
High School (9-12)	$22,300/yr	$17,900/yr	+$4,400

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Bellevue

$241,800

Riverside

$193,700

Choosing Riverside saves $48,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $96,200.

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

Riverside

Notre Dame High School (Riverside)

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr

Riverside Christian School

Christian · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

Full Bellevue breakdown → Full Riverside breakdown →

Washington private school costs California 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.