Is private school cheaper in Providence or Riverside?

Riverside has lower average private school tuition at $14,900/year vs $22,000/year in Providence. That's $7,100/year less, or $92,300 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Riverside over Providence?

Average tuition in Riverside is $7,100/year less than Providence. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $92,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $12,400/year in Providence, $9,700/year in Riverside.

How do Providence and Riverside private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Providence averages $22,000/year ($9,650 above average). Riverside averages $14,900/year ($2,550 above average).

Private School Cost: Providence vs Riverside

Riverside averages $7,100/year less for private school (48% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $92,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Riverside is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,900/year vs $22,000/year in Providence. Religious schools run $9,700/year on the low end.

Providence

$22,000

avg tuition/year

$9,650 above national avg

Riverside

$14,900

avg tuition/year

$2,550 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Providence	Riverside	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$22,000/yr	$14,900/yr	+$7,100
Religious Schools	$12,400/yr	$9,700/yr	+$2,700
Independent/Prep	$36,000/yr	$29,000/yr	+$7,000
Elementary (K-5)	$18,000/yr	$12,700/yr	+$5,300
Middle School (6-8)	$22,000/yr	$14,900/yr	+$7,100
High School (9-12)	$27,500/yr	$17,900/yr	+$9,600

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Providence

$286,000

Riverside

$193,700

Choosing Riverside saves $92,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $184,600.

Sample Schools

Providence

Moses Brown School

Independent (Quaker) · PK–12 · $40,800-$43,200/yr

Wheeler School

Independent · PK–12 · $38,200-$40,800/yr

Providence Country Day School

Independent · 6–12 · $34,800/yr

La Salle Academy (Providence)

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,200/yr

Riverside

Notre Dame High School (Riverside)

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr

Riverside Christian School

Christian · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

Full Providence breakdown → Full Riverside breakdown →

Rhode Island private school costs California 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.