Is private school cheaper in Joliet or Lafayette?

Lafayette has lower average private school tuition at $6,200/year vs $12,100/year in Joliet. That's $5,900/year less, or $76,700 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Lafayette is $5,900/year less than Joliet. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $76,700 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,600/year in Joliet, $4,600/year in Lafayette.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Joliet averages $12,100/year ($250 below average). Lafayette averages $6,200/year ($6,150 below average).

Private School Cost: Joliet vs Lafayette

Lafayette averages $5,900/year less for private school (95% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $76,700 per child.

Bottom Line

Lafayette is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $6,200/year vs $12,100/year in Joliet. Religious schools run $4,600/year on the low end.

Joliet

$12,100

avg tuition/year

$250 below national avg

Lafayette

$6,200

avg tuition/year

$6,150 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Joliet	Lafayette	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$12,100/yr	$6,200/yr	+$5,900
Religious Schools	$7,600/yr	$4,600/yr	+$3,000
Independent/Prep	$27,900/yr	$14,900/yr	+$13,000
Elementary (K-5)	$10,300/yr	$5,300/yr	+$5,000
Middle School (6-8)	$12,100/yr	$6,200/yr	+$5,900
High School (9-12)	$14,500/yr	$7,400/yr	+$7,100

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Joliet

$157,300

Lafayette

$80,600

Choosing Lafayette saves $76,700 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $153,400.

Sample Schools

Joliet

Joliet Catholic Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,800/yr

Plainfield Academy

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 Joliet breakdown → Full Lafayette breakdown →

Illinois 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.