Is private school cheaper in Los Angeles or Waco?

Waco has lower average private school tuition at $10,100/year vs $26,800/year in Los Angeles. That's $16,700/year less, or $217,100 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Waco over Los Angeles?

Average tuition in Waco is $16,700/year less than Los Angeles. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $217,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $13,500/year in Los Angeles, $6,900/year in Waco.

How do Los Angeles and Waco private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Los Angeles averages $26,800/year ($14,450 above average). Waco averages $10,100/year ($2,250 below average).

Private School Cost: Los Angeles vs Waco

Waco averages $16,700/year less for private school (165% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $217,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Waco is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $10,100/year vs $26,800/year in Los Angeles. Religious schools run $6,900/year on the low end.

Los Angeles

$26,800

avg tuition/year

$14,450 above national avg

Waco

$10,100

avg tuition/year

$2,250 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Los Angeles	Waco	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$26,800/yr	$10,100/yr	+$16,700
Religious Schools	$13,500/yr	$6,900/yr	+$6,600
Independent/Prep	$42,000/yr	$21,300/yr	+$20,700
Elementary (K-5)	$22,000/yr	$8,600/yr	+$13,400
Middle School (6-8)	$26,800/yr	$10,100/yr	+$16,700
High School (9-12)	$32,000/yr	$12,100/yr	+$19,900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Los Angeles

$348,400

Waco

$131,300

Choosing Waco saves $217,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $434,200.

Sample Schools

Los Angeles

Harvard-Westlake School

Independent · 7–12 · $47,890/yr

Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences

Independent · K–12 · $44,370/yr

Marlborough School

Independent · 7–12 · $44,800/yr

St. Monica Catholic School

Catholic · K–8 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

Waco

Vanguard College Preparatory

Christian · 6–12 · $12,400/yr

Reicher Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,200/yr

Full Los Angeles breakdown → Full Waco breakdown →

California private school costs Texas private school costs

Related Comparisons

Los Angeles vs San Francisco → Los Angeles vs San Diego → Los Angeles vs San Jose → Irvine vs Los Angeles →

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.