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Episcopal School Tuition 2026

Episcopal schools are at the high end of religious private education. Day school tuition runs $18,000–$42,000/year. Boarding schools charge $55,000–$70,000 all-in. These schools operate more like elite independent schools than church-subsidized religious schools.

Episcopal School Tuition by Grade Level (2026)

Annual tuition. Episcopal schools rarely offer congregation discounts; most operate as independent institutions with Episcopal affiliation. Source: NAES, individual school websites.

School Type Low End Typical High End
Day School — Lower (PreK–5) $16,000 $24,000 $38,000
Day School — Middle (6–8) $18,000 $27,000 $42,000
Day School — Upper (9–12) $22,000 $32,000 $48,000
Boarding School (9–12, all-in) $52,000 $60,000 $70,000

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What Episcopal Schools Offer for the Price

Programs and resources:

  • • Small class sizes (12–16 students typical)
  • • Chapel and ethics program (non-compulsory for non-Episcopalians)
  • • Strong arts, music, and theater programs
  • • AP and IB programs at upper schools

Additional fees:

  • • Application fee: $50–$150
  • • Technology and activity fees: $500–$1,500/year
  • • Uniforms: $300–$800
  • • Travel and service trips: $800–$3,000

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Updated March 2026. Tuition data from NAES (National Association of Episcopal Schools) member school directory and individual school websites. Episcopal schools operate largely independently of diocesan financial support, so published rates are close to actual tuition paid. Updated March 2026.

Episcopal School Cost: Religious by Name, Independent by Price

Episcopal schools charge like independent schools and operate like independent schools. The Episcopal affiliation primarily means chapel services, an ethics or religion curriculum, and governance through a vestry or diocesan relationship. Financial support from the Episcopal Church is generally minimal. Most Episcopal schools are fully tuition-dependent, which explains why their prices sit $10,000–$20,000/year above Catholic and Lutheran schools and closer to secular independent schools.

There are about 1,000 Episcopal schools in the U.S. The National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) accredits most of them. The well-known ones — St. Paul's, Groton, Trinity School in Manhattan, Sidwell Friends (Quaker but adjacent in culture) — are among the most selective and most expensive schools in the country, at $45,000–$68,000/year for day school. The median Episcopal school is less famous and less expensive but still clearly in the upper tier of private school pricing.

Financial aid at Episcopal schools is well-developed. Endowment-backed scholarship programs at major Episcopal schools can cover a significant portion of tuition for qualifying families. The income range for meaningful aid at a $30,000/year Episcopal school typically reaches families earning up to $150,000–$200,000 in high-cost areas. The application process is formal: income documentation, SSS (School and Student Services) financial form, and sometimes an interview.

Non-Episcopalians are welcome and make up a majority at many schools. Chapel attendance is typically required, but the services are usually explicitly non-proselytizing. Some schools frame the religious component as "ethical development" and downplay denominational specifics. If the religious dimension matters to your family, visit the school and ask directly about the chapel program, the theology curriculum, and whether non-Christian students feel fully included.

The college placement records at Episcopal upper schools are strong. Schools affiliated with NAES regularly place students at highly selective universities. The alumni networks at schools like St. Mark's, Exeter (independent but adjacent), and Groton are genuinely influential in certain industries. Whether that institutional network is worth an extra $20,000/year over a good public school is a real question. For some families and career paths, the answer is yes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Episcopal school cost per year?
Episcopal school tuition averages $16,000–38,000/year for day school lower school, $18,000–42,000 for middle school, and $22,000–48,000 for upper school. Boarding Episcopal schools charge $52,000–70,000 all-in. Unlike Catholic or Lutheran schools, Episcopal schools receive minimal church subsidies and are primarily tuition-funded, which explains why their prices are comparable to secular independent schools rather than other religious schools. Episcopal schools affiliated with NAES (National Association of Episcopal Schools) are the most consistently priced.
Do you have to be Episcopalian to attend an Episcopal school?
No. Episcopal schools welcome students of all faiths and typically do not offer lower tuition to Episcopalian families (unlike Catholic or Lutheran schools). Most Episcopal schools require chapel attendance, which is explicitly non-proselytizing and often framed as an ethics or community program. The religious component varies by school: some have active chapel programs with weekly services; others have minimal religious programming beyond a brief morning gathering. Non-Episcopalian and non-Christian families make up a majority at many Episcopal schools.
Is there financial aid at Episcopal schools?
Yes, and it is well-developed at major Episcopal schools. Episcopal schools with large endowments — schools like St. Paul's, Trinity School Manhattan, and Groton — have formal need-based aid programs that can cover substantial portions of tuition. The income range for meaningful aid at a $35,000/year Episcopal school often extends to families earning $150,000–200,000 in high-cost-of-living areas. Applications use the SSS (School and Student Services) financial form. Smaller Episcopal schools have more limited aid budgets.
How does Episcopal school compare to Catholic school in cost?
Episcopal schools cost $12,000–30,000/year more than Catholic schools at the same grade level. Catholic elementary averages $5,330/year for parish families; Episcopal day school elementary averages $22,000–38,000. The gap reflects fundamentally different operating models: Catholic schools receive substantial parish and diocesan subsidies, while Episcopal schools are largely tuition-funded. Episcopal schools generally have smaller class sizes, more extensive arts and athletics programs, and stronger college placement records than Catholic schools — but the price premium is real and large.
What makes Episcopal schools different from other private schools?
Episcopal schools combine religious affiliation with elite independent school programming. The religious component means chapel, ethics courses, and a community culture shaped by Episcopal values (service, inquiry, dignity of all people). The independent school component means AP courses, college counseling, strong alumni networks, and competitive athletics and arts. The combination is closer to secular independent schools than to Catholic or Lutheran schools in programming, culture, and cost. Major Episcopal schools — particularly boarding schools in New England — are among the most selective and prestigious private schools in the country.

Data Sources

Episcopal school tuition data: NAES (National Association of Episcopal Schools) member directory, individual school websites, and NCES Private School Universe Survey 2024–2025. Updated March 2026.

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Data: NAIS Annual Tuition Survey, NCEA Catholic School Statistics, NCES Private School Universe Survey, College Board Independent School Aid Research

Last updated: September 2025

How we calculate this · Financial aid is not guaranteed. Contact each school's financial aid office for current aid availability and application deadlines.

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