Is private school cheaper in Detroit or Houston?

Detroit has lower average private school tuition at $11,500/year vs $15,800/year in Houston. That's $4,300/year less, or $55,900 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Detroit over Houston?

Average tuition in Detroit is $4,300/year less than Houston. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $55,900 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,600/year in Detroit, $9,200/year in Houston.

How do Detroit and Houston private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Detroit averages $11,500/year ($850 below average). Houston averages $15,800/year ($3,450 above average).

Private School Cost: Detroit vs Houston

Detroit averages $4,300/year less for private school (37% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $55,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Detroit is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,500/year vs $15,800/year in Houston. Religious schools run $7,600/year on the low end.

Detroit

$11,500

avg tuition/year

$850 below national avg

Lower cost

Houston

$15,800

avg tuition/year

$3,450 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Detroit	Houston	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$11,500/yr	$15,800/yr	-$4,300
Religious Schools	$7,600/yr	$9,200/yr	-$1,600
Independent/Prep	$21,500/yr	$28,000/yr	-$6,500
Elementary (K-5)	$9,400/yr	$13,000/yr	-$3,600
Middle School (6-8)	$11,500/yr	$15,800/yr	-$4,300
High School (9-12)	$14,200/yr	$19,500/yr	-$5,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Detroit

$149,500

Houston

$205,400

Choosing Detroit saves $55,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $111,800.

Sample Schools

Detroit

Cranbrook Kingswood School

Independent · PK–12 · $34,200-$36,800/yr

University of Detroit Jesuit High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $16,200/yr

Brother Rice High School (Detroit)

Catholic · 9–12 · $13,800/yr

Mercy High School (Farmington Hills)

Catholic · 9–12 · $13,200/yr

Houston

St. John's School (Houston)

Independent · K–12 · $33,900-$36,200/yr

Kinkaid School

Independent · PK–12 · $34,500-$37,000/yr

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

Catholic · 9–12 · $20,400/yr

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

Catholic · K–12 · $20,100/yr

Full Detroit breakdown → Full Houston breakdown →

Michigan private school costs Texas private school costs

Related Comparisons

Houston vs Dallas → Houston vs Austin → San Francisco vs Houston → New York vs Houston →

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.