Is private school cheaper in Dallas or Lafayette?

Lafayette has lower average private school tuition at $6,200/year vs $17,200/year in Dallas. That's $11,000/year less, or $143,000 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Lafayette over Dallas?

Average tuition in Lafayette is $11,000/year less than Dallas. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $143,000 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,500/year in Dallas, $4,600/year in Lafayette.

How do Dallas and Lafayette private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Dallas averages $17,200/year ($4,850 above average). Lafayette averages $6,200/year ($6,150 below average).

Private School Cost: Dallas vs Lafayette

Lafayette averages $11,000/year less for private school (177% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $143,000 per child.

Bottom Line

Lafayette is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $6,200/year vs $17,200/year in Dallas. Religious schools run $4,600/year on the low end.

Dallas

$17,200

avg tuition/year

$4,850 above national avg

Lafayette

$6,200

avg tuition/year

$6,150 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Dallas	Lafayette	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$17,200/yr	$6,200/yr	+$11,000
Religious Schools	$9,500/yr	$4,600/yr	+$4,900
Independent/Prep	$30,000/yr	$14,900/yr	+$15,100
Elementary (K-5)	$14,000/yr	$5,300/yr	+$8,700
Middle School (6-8)	$17,200/yr	$6,200/yr	+$11,000
High School (9-12)	$21,000/yr	$7,400/yr	+$13,600

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Dallas

$223,600

Lafayette

$80,600

Choosing Lafayette saves $143,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $286,000.

Sample Schools

Dallas

Greenhill School

Independent · PK–12 · $38,400-$41,200/yr

St. Mark's School of Texas

Independent · 1–12 · $38,200/yr

Hockaday School

Independent · PK–12 · $39,800/yr

Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas

Catholic · 9–12 · $21,800/yr

Lafayette

Teurlings Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,600/yr

Ascension Episcopal School (Lafayette)

Independent (Episcopal) · PK–12 · $14,800/yr

Full Dallas breakdown → Full Lafayette breakdown →

Texas private school costs Louisiana private school costs

Related Comparisons

Houston vs Dallas → Dallas vs Austin → Dallas vs San Antonio → Fort Worth vs Dallas →

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.