25 Private School Cost Statistics (2026)

$12,350/year — national average private school tuition

The national average covers all private school types: religious, independent, Montessori, and other non-public schools. Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 2023–24.

Religious schools average $8,000/year; independent schools average $25,000/year

School type is the single biggest cost driver. Religious schools (Catholic, Christian, Jewish, etc.) run $8,000 on average. Independent schools — those without religious affiliation — average $25,000. That's a 3.1x difference.

District of Columbia is the most expensive state, averaging $26,850/year

High cost of living and a concentration of prestigious independent schools push District of Columbia's average to $26,850/year. Source: NCES 2023–24 data.

South Dakota is the most affordable at $6,250/year

Southern and Plains states dominate the lower end of the cost spectrum. South Dakota averages $6,250/year — mostly religious schools with lower operating costs.

Boarding school tuition averages $42,000/year — $29,650 more than average day school

Boarding tuition includes room, board, and activities in addition to instruction. $42,000 is a national average; elite New England boarding schools regularly exceed $60,000–70,000/year. Source: National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), 2024.

High school tuition runs about 15% higher than elementary at the same school

More specialized instruction, extracurriculars, and college prep resources drive high school costs above elementary. Elementary enrollments also help subsidize upper school programs at many schools. Source: NCES 2023–24 data.

27% of private school students receive some form of financial aid

Just over one in four private school students receives aid. The percentage is higher at independent schools (often 35–45%) and lower at religious schools with fixed low tuition. Source: NCES.

Average financial aid award: $7,500/year — covering 48% of tuition

Aid awards average $7,500/year across all private school types. At independent schools, where tuition is higher, aid amounts are larger but tuition remains a larger out-of-pocket cost even after aid.

25% of private schools charge under $5,500/year; 25% charge over $18,800/year

These are the 25th and 75th percentile tuition figures nationally. Most families can find a private school option under $10,000/year — typically smaller religious schools. The premium independent school range starts around $20,000.

Public schools spend $14,347/student per year on average — below the private school median

Public per-pupil expenditure includes teachers, facilities, transportation, and administration but not capital costs. The comparison is imperfect: private schools often serve different populations and don't face the same inclusion mandates. Source: NCES, 2022–23 state education finance data.