PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Raleigh vs Tallahassee

Tallahassee averages $3,100/year less for private school (31% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $40,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Tallahassee is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,900/year vs $13,000/year in Raleigh. Religious schools run $6,800/year on the low end.

Raleigh

NC

$13,000

avg tuition/year

$650 above national avg

Tallahassee

FL

$9,900

avg tuition/year

$2,450 below national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Raleigh Tallahassee Difference
All Schools (Average) $13,000/yr $9,900/yr +$3,100
Religious Schools $8,200/yr $6,800/yr +$1,400
Independent/Prep $24,500/yr $20,400/yr +$4,100
Elementary (K-5) $10,600/yr $8,400/yr +$2,200
Middle School (6-8) $13,000/yr $9,900/yr +$3,100
High School (9-12) $16,000/yr $11,900/yr +$4,100

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Raleigh

$169,000

Tallahassee

$128,700

Choosing Tallahassee saves $40,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $80,600.

Sample Schools

Raleigh

Ravenscroft School

Independent · PK–12 · $26,800-$29,200/yr

Cardinal Gibbons High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,400/yr

Cary Academy

Independent · 6–12 · $22,400-$24,800/yr

Raleigh Charter High School

Charter (Free) · 9–12

Tallahassee

Maclay School (Tallahassee)

Independent · PK–12 · $18,400/yr

St. John Paul II Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/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.