Is private school cheaper in Lafayette or Scranton?

Lafayette has lower average private school tuition at $6,200/year vs $12,200/year in Scranton. That's $6,000/year less, or $78,000 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Lafayette is $6,000/year less than Scranton. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $78,000 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $4,600/year in Lafayette, $7,800/year in Scranton.

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

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

Private School Cost: Lafayette vs Scranton

Lafayette averages $6,000/year less for private school (97% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $78,000 per child.

Bottom Line

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

Lafayette

$6,200

avg tuition/year

$6,150 below national avg

Lower cost

Scranton

$12,200

avg tuition/year

$150 below national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Lafayette	Scranton	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$6,200/yr	$12,200/yr	-$6,000
Religious Schools	$4,600/yr	$7,800/yr	-$3,200
Independent/Prep	$14,900/yr	$28,300/yr	-$13,400
Elementary (K-5)	$5,300/yr	$10,400/yr	-$5,100
Middle School (6-8)	$6,200/yr	$12,200/yr	-$6,000
High School (9-12)	$7,400/yr	$14,600/yr	-$7,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Lafayette

$80,600

Scranton

$158,600

Choosing Lafayette saves $78,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $156,000.

Sample Schools

Lafayette

Teurlings Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,600/yr

Ascension Episcopal School (Lafayette)

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

Scranton

Holy Cross High School (Dunmore)

Catholic · 9–12 · $11,200/yr

Wyoming Seminary

Independent · 9–12 · $36,800-$42,000/yr

Full Lafayette breakdown → Full Scranton breakdown →

Louisiana private school costs Pennsylvania 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.