Is private school cheaper in Joliet or Odessa?

Odessa has lower average private school tuition at $10,500/year vs $12,100/year in Joliet. That's $1,600/year less, or $20,800 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Odessa is $1,600/year less than Joliet. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $20,800 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,600/year in Joliet, $7,200/year in Odessa.

How do Joliet and Odessa 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). Odessa averages $10,500/year ($1,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Joliet vs Odessa

Odessa averages $1,600/year less for private school (15% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $20,800 per child.

Bottom Line

Odessa is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $10,500/year vs $12,100/year in Joliet. Religious schools run $7,200/year on the low end.

Joliet

$12,100

avg tuition/year

$250 below national avg

Odessa

$10,500

avg tuition/year

$1,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Joliet	Odessa	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$12,100/yr	$10,500/yr	+$1,600
Religious Schools	$7,600/yr	$7,200/yr	+$400
Independent/Prep	$27,900/yr	$22,300/yr	+$5,600
Elementary (K-5)	$10,300/yr	$8,900/yr	+$1,400
Middle School (6-8)	$12,100/yr	$10,500/yr	+$1,600
High School (9-12)	$14,500/yr	$12,600/yr	+$1,900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Joliet

$157,300

Odessa

$136,500

Choosing Odessa saves $20,800 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $41,600.

Sample Schools

Joliet

Joliet Catholic Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,800/yr

Plainfield Academy

Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/yr

Odessa

Trinity Christian School (Odessa)

Christian · K–12 · $8,800-$10,800/yr

Our Lady of Guadalupe School

Catholic · K–8 · $7,400-$9,000/yr

Full Joliet breakdown → Full Odessa breakdown →

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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.