Private School Cost: Little Rock vs Montgomery
Little Rock averages $800/year less for private school (12% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $10,400 per child.
Bottom Line
Little Rock is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $6,600/year vs $7,400/year in Montgomery. Religious schools run $5,000/year on the low end.
Little Rock
AR
$6,600
avg tuition/year
Montgomery
AL
$7,400
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Little Rock | Montgomery | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $6,600/yr | $7,400/yr | -$800 |
| Religious Schools | $5,000/yr | $5,500/yr | -$500 |
| Independent/Prep | $13,100/yr | $15,100/yr | -$2,000 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $5,600/yr | $6,300/yr | -$700 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $6,600/yr | $7,400/yr | -$800 |
| High School (9-12) | $7,900/yr | $8,900/yr | -$1,000 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Little Rock
$85,800
Montgomery
$96,200
Choosing Little Rock saves $10,400 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $20,800.
Sample Schools
Little Rock
Pulaski Academy (Little Rock)
Independent · PK–12 · $11,800/yr
Mount St. Mary Academy
Catholic · 9–12 · $11,200/yr
Montgomery
Montgomery Academy
Independent · K–12 · $14,200/yr
Saint James School (Montgomery)
Christian · PK–12 · $12,800/yr
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.