Is private school cheaper in Houston or Austin?

Austin has lower average private school tuition at $15,500/year vs $15,800/year in Houston. That's $300/year less, or $3,900 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Austin is $300/year less than Houston. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $3,900 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,200/year in Houston, $9,400/year in Austin.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Houston averages $15,800/year ($3,450 above average). Austin averages $15,500/year ($3,150 above average).

Private School Cost: Houston vs Austin

Austin averages $300/year less for private school (2% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $3,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Austin is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $15,500/year vs $15,800/year in Houston. Religious schools run $9,200/year on the low end.

Houston

$15,800

avg tuition/year

$3,450 above national avg

Austin

$15,500

avg tuition/year

$3,150 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Houston	Austin	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$15,800/yr	$15,500/yr	+$300
Religious Schools	$9,200/yr	$9,400/yr	-$200
Independent/Prep	$28,000/yr	$28,200/yr	-$200
Elementary (K-5)	$13,000/yr	$12,800/yr	+$200
Middle School (6-8)	$15,800/yr	$15,500/yr	+$300
High School (9-12)	$19,500/yr	$19,200/yr	+$300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Houston

$205,400

Austin

$201,500

Choosing Austin saves $3,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $7,800.

Sample Schools

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

Austin

St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Austin)

Independent · PK–12 · $32,800-$35,400/yr

Austin Preparatory School

Catholic · 6–12 · $14,200/yr

St. Michael's Catholic Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $15,800/yr

Hyde Park Baptist School

Christian · PK–12 · $13,400-$15,200/yr

Full Houston breakdown → Full Austin breakdown →

Texas private school costs

Related Comparisons

Houston vs Dallas → Dallas vs Austin → Austin vs San Antonio → San Francisco 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.