Is private school cheaper in Dallas or Missoula?

Missoula has lower average private school tuition at $8,000/year vs $17,200/year in Dallas. That's $9,200/year less, or $119,600 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Missoula is $9,200/year less than Dallas. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $119,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,500/year in Dallas, $5,400/year in Missoula.

How do Dallas and Missoula 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). Missoula averages $8,000/year ($4,350 below average).

Private School Cost: Dallas vs Missoula

Missoula averages $9,200/year less for private school (115% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $119,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Missoula is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $8,000/year vs $17,200/year in Dallas. Religious schools run $5,400/year on the low end.

Dallas

$17,200

avg tuition/year

$4,850 above national avg

Missoula

$8,000

avg tuition/year

$4,350 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Dallas	Missoula	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$17,200/yr	$8,000/yr	+$9,200
Religious Schools	$9,500/yr	$5,400/yr	+$4,100
Independent/Prep	$30,000/yr	$15,500/yr	+$14,500
Elementary (K-5)	$14,000/yr	$6,800/yr	+$7,200
Middle School (6-8)	$17,200/yr	$8,000/yr	+$9,200
High School (9-12)	$21,000/yr	$9,600/yr	+$11,400

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Dallas

$223,600

Missoula

$104,000

Choosing Missoula saves $119,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $239,200.

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

Missoula

Loyola Sacred Heart High School (Missoula)

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,200/yr

Montana Academy (Missoula area)

Independent (Therapeutic) · 9–12 · $44,800-$52,000/yr

Full Dallas breakdown → Full Missoula breakdown →

Texas private school costs Montana 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.