Private School Cost: Riverside vs San Francisco
Riverside averages $19,300/year less for private school (130% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $250,900 per child.
Bottom Line
Riverside is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,900/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. Religious schools run $9,700/year on the low end.
Riverside
CA
$14,900
avg tuition/year
San Francisco
CA
$34,200
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Riverside | San Francisco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $14,900/yr | $34,200/yr | -$19,300 |
| Religious Schools | $9,700/yr | $16,000/yr | -$6,300 |
| Independent/Prep | $29,000/yr | $52,000/yr | -$23,000 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $12,700/yr | $28,000/yr | -$15,300 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $14,900/yr | $34,200/yr | -$19,300 |
| High School (9-12) | $17,900/yr | $42,000/yr | -$24,100 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Riverside
$193,700
San Francisco
$444,600
Choosing Riverside saves $250,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $501,800.
Sample Schools
Riverside
Notre Dame High School (Riverside)
Catholic · 9–12 · $17,800/yr
Riverside Christian School
Christian · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr
San Francisco
San Francisco University High School
Independent · 9–12 · $56,830/yr
The Urban School of San Francisco
Independent · 9–12 · $56,200/yr
Katherine Delmar Burke School
Independent · K–8 · $48,900/yr
St. Ignatius College Preparatory
Catholic · 9–12 · $24,600/yr
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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.