{
  "slug": "public-vs-private-school-cost",
  "title": "Public vs Private School Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Public vs Private School Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/public-vs-private-school-cost",
  "summary": "Compare the total cost of private school tuition against the opportunity cost of investing the difference.",
  "description": "Public school is effectively free at the point of use (funded by taxes), while private school tuition can run into the tens of thousands per year but may offer smaller class sizes or specialized programs. This tool totals private tuition and fees over the years your child would attend, and compares that against what the same money could grow to if invested instead, so you can weigh the financial tradeoff clearly.",
  "formula": "Private Total = (Tuition + Fees) × Years. Invested Alternative = Annual Tuition invested each year at your assumed return, compounded.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=public-vs-private-school-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "annualTuition",
      "label": "Private school annual tuition",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 18000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "annualFees",
      "label": "Additional annual fees",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "years",
      "label": "Years of schooling",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 13,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 20
    },
    {
      "id": "investReturn",
      "label": "Assumed investment return",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 0,
      "max": 15
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "winner",
      "label": "Financial opportunity cost path",
      "format": "raw",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "privateTotal",
      "label": "Total private school cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "investedValue",
      "label": "Value if invested instead",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "diff",
      "label": "Opportunity cost difference",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Private school annual tuition: 18000 $",
      "Additional annual fees: 1500 $",
      "Years of schooling: 13",
      "Assumed investment return: 7 %"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Financial opportunity cost path: Public School + Investing",
      "Total private school cost: $253,500",
      "Value if invested instead: $420,235",
      "Opportunity cost difference: $166,735"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter private school annual tuition ($).",
      "Enter additional annual fees ($).",
      "Enter years of schooling.",
      "Enter assumed investment return (%).",
      "Read your financial opportunity cost path on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "annualTuition": 11000,
        "annualFees": 900,
        "years": 8,
        "investReturn": 4.2
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "annualTuition": 18000,
        "annualFees": 1500,
        "years": 13,
        "investReturn": 7
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "annualTuition": 29000,
        "annualFees": 2400,
        "years": 20,
        "investReturn": 11.200000000000001
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does this account for public school being truly free?",
      "a": "It assumes public school has no direct tuition cost; local property taxes fund it indirectly, but this tool focuses on the discretionary spending decision, not tax burden."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should I include college savings in this comparison?",
      "a": "Consider it separately — many families weigh private K-12 tuition against redirecting that money into a 529 plan for college, which this tool's invested-alternative figure approximates."
    },
    {
      "q": "What if private school leads to college scholarships?",
      "a": "That's a real but hard-to-quantify benefit; some private schools report strong scholarship outcomes that can offset years of tuition, which isn't captured in this pure cost model."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/community-college-vs-university-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/daycare-vs-nanny-cost"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Public vs Private School Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/public-vs-private-school-cost)"
}