Is private school cheaper in Odessa or Waco?

Waco has lower average private school tuition at $10,100/year vs $10,500/year in Odessa. That's $400/year less, or $5,200 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Waco is $400/year less than Odessa. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $5,200 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,200/year in Odessa, $6,900/year in Waco.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Odessa averages $10,500/year ($1,850 below average). Waco averages $10,100/year ($2,250 below average).

Private School Cost: Odessa vs Waco

Waco averages $400/year less for private school (4% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $5,200 per child.

Bottom Line

Waco is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $10,100/year vs $10,500/year in Odessa. Religious schools run $6,900/year on the low end.

Odessa

$10,500

avg tuition/year

$1,850 below national avg

Waco

$10,100

avg tuition/year

$2,250 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Odessa	Waco	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$10,500/yr	$10,100/yr	+$400
Religious Schools	$7,200/yr	$6,900/yr	+$300
Independent/Prep	$22,300/yr	$21,300/yr	+$1,000
Elementary (K-5)	$8,900/yr	$8,600/yr	+$300
Middle School (6-8)	$10,500/yr	$10,100/yr	+$400
High School (9-12)	$12,600/yr	$12,100/yr	+$500

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Odessa

$136,500

Waco

$131,300

Choosing Waco saves $5,200 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $10,400.

Sample Schools

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

Waco

Vanguard College Preparatory

Christian · 6–12 · $12,400/yr

Reicher Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,200/yr

Full Odessa breakdown → Full Waco breakdown →

Texas 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.