PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Dallas vs Riverside

Riverside averages $2,300/year less for private school (15% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $29,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Riverside is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,900/year vs $17,200/year in Dallas. Religious schools run $9,500/year on the low end.

Dallas

TX

$17,200

avg tuition/year

$4,850 above national avg

Riverside

CA

$14,900

avg tuition/year

$2,550 above national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Dallas Riverside Difference
All Schools (Average) $17,200/yr $14,900/yr +$2,300
Religious Schools $9,500/yr $9,700/yr -$200
Independent/Prep $30,000/yr $29,000/yr +$1,000
Elementary (K-5) $14,000/yr $12,700/yr +$1,300
Middle School (6-8) $17,200/yr $14,900/yr +$2,300
High School (9-12) $21,000/yr $17,900/yr +$3,100

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Dallas

$223,600

Riverside

$193,700

Choosing Riverside saves $29,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $59,800.

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

Riverside

Notre Dame High School (Riverside)

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr

Riverside Christian School

Christian · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

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.