Private School Cost: Lincoln vs San Francisco
Lincoln averages $27,000/year less for private school (375% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $351,000 per child.
Bottom Line
Lincoln is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $7,200/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. Religious schools run $5,000/year on the low end.
Lincoln
NE
$7,200
avg tuition/year
San Francisco
CA
$34,200
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Lincoln | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $7,200/yr | $34,200/yr | -$27,000 |
| Religious Schools | $5,000/yr | $16,000/yr | -$11,000 |
| Independent/Prep | $15,600/yr | $52,000/yr | -$36,400 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $6,100/yr | $28,000/yr | -$21,900 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $7,200/yr | $34,200/yr | -$27,000 |
| High School (9-12) | $8,600/yr | $42,000/yr | -$33,400 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Lincoln
$93,600
San Francisco
$444,600
Choosing Lincoln saves $351,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $702,000.
Sample Schools
Lincoln
Lincoln Christian High School
Christian · K–12 · $9,600-$11,800/yr
Pius X High School (Lincoln)
Catholic · 9–12 · $8,800/yr
San Francisco
San Francisco University High School
Independent · 9–12 · $56,830/yr
The Urban School of San Francisco
Independent · 9–12 · $56,200/yr
Katherine Delmar Burke School
Independent · K–8 · $48,900/yr
St. Ignatius College Preparatory
Catholic · 9–12 · $24,600/yr
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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.