PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost Per Month: $625–$2,690

Annual tuition divided by 10 school-year months (not 12). The national average runs $1,235/month. Your actual number depends on state, grade level, and whether it's a religious or independent school. Select below to see your monthly cost.

Monthly Tuition by School Type and Grade Level

National averages. Monthly = annual tuition ÷ 10 school-year months. Source: NCES Private School Universe Survey.

School Type Elementary Middle High School Per Year
Religious $720/mo $800/mo $920/mo $8,000/yr
National avg $1,112/mo $1,235/mo $1,420/mo $12,350/yr
Montessori $1,125/mo $1,250/mo $1,438/mo $12,500/yr
Independent $2,250/mo $2,500/mo $2,875/mo $25,000/yr

Elementary uses 0.90x multiplier, middle school 1.0x, high school 1.15x. Tuition only; uniforms, books, and activities add $100–$600/month.

Calculate Your Monthly Cost

Private School Payment Plans: How It Works

Most private schools offer these options. The total annual cost is the same regardless of which plan you pick.

1

Pay in full (annual)

One payment before the school year starts. Some schools offer a 2–5% discount for paying upfront. On $12,350 tuition, that saves $247–$618.

2

Semi-annual (2 payments)

Half due in August, half in January. No discount, but no added fees either at most schools.

3

Monthly (10 or 12 payments)

Many schools use FACTS or SMART Tuition to process monthly payments. Expect a $50–$75 annual enrollment fee for the service. The 12-month plan starts in June or July; the 10-month plan runs August through May.

Related Calculators

Private School Cost Calculator

Annual tuition by state, grade, and school type

K-12 Total Cost

Full cost from kindergarten to graduation with inflation

Financial Aid Estimator

27% of students receive aid averaging 48% of tuition

Tuition by State

Mississippi $6,450 to Connecticut $21,350

Updated March 2026. Monthly figures = annual tuition ÷ payment months.

The Monthly Math Most Parents Skip

Private school families think in annual numbers. $12,350 per year sounds manageable until you divide by 10 and realize that's $1,235 a month on top of your mortgage. For families at independent schools, it's $2,500/month. That's a second rent payment.

Why divide by 10, not 12? Because most schools bill over the school year (August through May), not the calendar year. Summer is "free" in the sense that you aren't making payments, but the annual total is the same. A 12-month plan just spreads the same dollar amount into smaller chunks.

Grade level changes the monthly number more than most families expect. Elementary runs about 10% below a school's baseline tuition. High school runs 15% above it. At a religious school, that's the difference between $720/month and $920/month. At an independent school: $2,250 vs. $2,875. Over four years of high school on the 10-month plan, those extra $625/month add up to $25,000.

The hidden costs are what really blow the monthly budget. Tuition covers instruction and textbooks. Everything else is extra. Uniforms ($40–$80/month amortized), lunch ($100–$200/month), after-school care ($200–$500/month if you need it), sports and activity fees, and transportation. For most families, the real monthly cost of private school runs 15–25% above the tuition line item.

Financial aid can cut these numbers substantially. About 27% of private school students receive aid covering 40–60% of tuition. On $1,235/month: a 48% aid award drops your out-of-pocket to about $642/month. Use the aid estimator to get your ballpark number.

Monthly Cost by State: Biggest Spreads

The state you live in is the second-biggest factor after school type. South Dakota averages $625/month (all types, 10-month plan). D.C. averages $2,685/month. That's a $2,060/month gap for the same type of education.

The cheapest monthly tuition states cluster in the South and Great Plains: Mississippi ($645/mo), Louisiana ($685/mo), North Dakota ($685/mo), Arkansas ($715/mo). These states have a high share of parish-subsidized Catholic schools that keep averages low.

The most expensive states are the usual suspects: D.C. ($2,685/mo), Massachusetts ($2,250/mo), Connecticut ($2,135/mo), New York ($2,015/mo). High concentrations of independent day schools and boarding schools drive these averages up. If you're looking at a religious school in these states, your monthly cost may still be under $1,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does private school cost per month?
Private school costs $625–$2,690/month depending on state and school type. The national average is $1,235/month (based on $12,350/year divided by 10 school-year months). Religious schools average $800/month; independent schools average $2,500/month. These figures cover tuition only — add $100–$600/month for uniforms, books, and fees.
Do private schools charge tuition over 10 or 12 months?
Most private schools bill over 10 months (the school year), not 12. Some offer a 12-month payment plan that spreads the cost into smaller installments but the total is the same. A school charging $12,350/year bills $1,235/month over 10 months, or $1,029/month over 12 months. Ask the admissions office which plans they offer — some charge a small fee for the 12-month option.
Can I pay private school tuition monthly?
Yes, most private schools offer monthly payment plans. The three common options: pay in full upfront (sometimes with a 2–5% discount), pay in two semesters, or pay monthly over 10–12 months. Monthly plans sometimes use a third-party service like FACTS or SMART Tuition, which charges a $50–$75 annual enrollment fee.
Is private high school more expensive per month than elementary?
Yes. High school tuition runs 15–25% more than elementary at the same school. At a religious school, that's roughly $920/month for high school vs. $720/month for elementary. At an independent school: $2,875/month for high school vs. $2,250/month for elementary. The premium covers more specialized teachers, AP/IB programs, and college counseling.
What is included in the monthly tuition payment?
Monthly tuition typically covers instruction and basic textbooks only. It usually excludes uniforms ($40–$80/month), lunch ($100–$200/month), transportation, technology fees ($20–$50/month), and extracurricular activities ($50–$200/month). Budget 10–25% on top of tuition for these extras.

Data Sources

Tuition averages by state and school type: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Private School Universe Survey (PSS), 2021–22 data. Grade-level cost multipliers: NCES school finance reports. Monthly calculations assume 10-month school year (August–May) unless 12-month plan selected. Updated March 2026.

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.