Is private school cheaper in Fayetteville or Lafayette?

Lafayette has lower average private school tuition at $6,200/year vs $9,000/year in Fayetteville. That's $2,800/year less, or $36,400 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Lafayette is $2,800/year less than Fayetteville. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $36,400 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $6,300/year in Fayetteville, $4,600/year in Lafayette.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Fayetteville averages $9,000/year ($3,350 below average). Lafayette averages $6,200/year ($6,150 below average).

Private School Cost: Fayetteville vs Lafayette

Lafayette averages $2,800/year less for private school (45% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $36,400 per child.

Bottom Line

Lafayette is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $6,200/year vs $9,000/year in Fayetteville. Religious schools run $4,600/year on the low end.

Fayetteville

$9,000

avg tuition/year

$3,350 below national avg

Lafayette

$6,200

avg tuition/year

$6,150 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Fayetteville	Lafayette	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,000/yr	$6,200/yr	+$2,800
Religious Schools	$6,300/yr	$4,600/yr	+$1,700
Independent/Prep	$18,900/yr	$14,900/yr	+$4,000
Elementary (K-5)	$7,700/yr	$5,300/yr	+$2,400
Middle School (6-8)	$9,000/yr	$6,200/yr	+$2,800
High School (9-12)	$10,800/yr	$7,400/yr	+$3,400

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Fayetteville

$117,000

Lafayette

$80,600

Choosing Lafayette saves $36,400 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $72,800.

Sample Schools

Fayetteville

Cape Fear Academy (Wilmington)

Independent · PK–12 · $16,400/yr

Fayetteville Christian School

Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/yr

Lafayette

Teurlings Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,600/yr

Ascension Episcopal School (Lafayette)

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

Full Fayetteville breakdown → Full Lafayette breakdown →

North Carolina private school costs Louisiana 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.