Is private school cheaper in Charleston or Columbia?

Columbia has lower average private school tuition at $8,300/year vs $9,400/year in Charleston. That's $1,100/year less, or $14,300 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Columbia over Charleston?

Average tuition in Columbia is $1,100/year less than Charleston. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $14,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $6,800/year in Charleston, $5,900/year in Columbia.

How do Charleston and Columbia private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Charleston averages $9,400/year ($2,950 below average). Columbia averages $8,300/year ($4,050 below average).

Private School Cost: Charleston vs Columbia

Columbia averages $1,100/year less for private school (13% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $14,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Columbia is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $8,300/year vs $9,400/year in Charleston. Religious schools run $5,900/year on the low end.

Charleston

$9,400

avg tuition/year

$2,950 below national avg

Columbia

$8,300

avg tuition/year

$4,050 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Charleston	Columbia	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,400/yr	$8,300/yr	+$1,100
Religious Schools	$6,800/yr	$5,900/yr	+$900
Independent/Prep	$19,400/yr	$19,500/yr	-$100
Elementary (K-5)	$8,000/yr	$7,100/yr	+$900
Middle School (6-8)	$9,400/yr	$8,300/yr	+$1,100
High School (9-12)	$11,300/yr	$10,000/yr	+$1,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Charleston

$122,200

Columbia

$107,900

Choosing Columbia saves $14,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $28,600.

Sample Schools

Charleston

Porter-Gaud School

Independent · PK–12 · $25,800/yr

Bishop England High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $12,800/yr

Columbia

Columbia Independent School

Independent · PK–8 · $12,800/yr

Calvary Lutheran School (Columbia MO)

Lutheran · PK–8 · $8,400-$10,400/yr

Full Charleston breakdown → Full Columbia breakdown →

South Carolina 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.