Is private school cheaper in Boulder or Springfield?

Springfield has lower average private school tuition at $7,700/year vs $15,200/year in Boulder. That's $7,500/year less, or $97,500 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Springfield over Boulder?

Average tuition in Springfield is $7,500/year less than Boulder. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $97,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,900/year in Boulder, $5,500/year in Springfield.

How do Boulder and Springfield private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Boulder averages $15,200/year ($2,850 above average). Springfield averages $7,700/year ($4,650 below average).

Private School Cost: Boulder vs Springfield

Springfield averages $7,500/year less for private school (97% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $97,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Springfield is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $7,700/year vs $15,200/year in Boulder. Religious schools run $5,500/year on the low end.

Boulder

$15,200

avg tuition/year

$2,850 above national avg

Springfield

$7,700

avg tuition/year

$4,650 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Boulder	Springfield	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$15,200/yr	$7,700/yr	+$7,500
Religious Schools	$9,900/yr	$5,500/yr	+$4,400
Independent/Prep	$29,900/yr	$18,000/yr	+$11,900
Elementary (K-5)	$12,900/yr	$6,500/yr	+$6,400
Middle School (6-8)	$15,200/yr	$7,700/yr	+$7,500
High School (9-12)	$18,200/yr	$9,200/yr	+$9,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Boulder

$197,600

Springfield

$100,100

Choosing Springfield saves $97,500 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $195,000.

Sample Schools

Boulder

Naropa University Lab School

Independent · K–8 · $18,400/yr

Dawson School

Independent · PK–12 · $26,800/yr

Springfield

Greenwood Laboratory School (Springfield MO)

Independent · PK–12 · $8,800-$11,200/yr

St. Agnes Cathedral School

Catholic · K–8 · $7,800-$9,600/yr

Full Boulder breakdown → Full Springfield breakdown →

Colorado private school costs Missouri 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.