What private school costs in Hawaii (2026-27)
We have read published tuition on 29 Hawaii private school websites. The middle price is $16,350 a year, using each school's lowest published full-year rate, and prices run from $9,130 to $37,500.
By grade band
| Grades | Median published tuition | Schools | Lowest to highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten to grade 5 | $15,575 | 26 | $9,130 to $34,230 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | $18,800 | 27 | $9,130 to $34,230 |
| Grades 9 to 12 | $23,440 | 18 | $12,900 to $37,500 |
A grade band is shown when at least 3 schools publish a price for it. Where a school lists several prices in one band, we take the lowest full-year day rate.
What Hawaii pays toward private school
No state program pays private school tuition. Families pay the published price, less any financial aid the school offers. School choice in Hawaii.
By affiliation
| Affiliation | Schools | Median lowest rate | K to 5 | 6 to 8 | 9 to 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 6 | $12,285 | $12,285 (6) | $12,523 (6) | too few |
| Other Christian | 11 | $12,715 | $12,045 (9) | $12,715 (11) | $23,788 (8) |
| Nonsectarian | 10 | $21,409 | $21,409 (10) | $23,300 (9) | $25,600 (7) |
Groups with at least 5 verified schools. Band medians show the number of schools in brackets; "too few" means under 3. Affiliation comes from the federal Private School Universe survey (2023-24).
Compared with public school spending
Hawaii's public schools spent $23,878 per student in fiscal year 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau). The median published private tuition above ($16,350) is 68% of that figure.
- Public spending is not a price. It is total current spending on public schools (teachers, staff, upkeep, transport, meals and more) divided by enrolled students. No family pays it, and it leaves out building construction and debt.
- The years differ. Public spending is for the 2023-24 school year, the latest the Census Bureau has published; tuition is mostly for 2026-27. Neither is adjusted for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8, total current spending per pupil. Every state side by side: private tuition vs public school spending.
Every Hawaii school with verified tuition
| School | City | Published tuition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Elizabeth Elementary School | Aiea | $9,130 | 2026-27 |
| Asia Pacific International School | Hauula | $25,500 to $27,800 | 2026-27 |
| Makua Lani Christian High School | Holualoa | $10,555 to $12,900 | 2026-27 |
| Assets School | Honolulu | $31,360 to $32,790 | 2026-27 |
| Christian Academy | Honolulu | $12,045 to $12,950 | 2026-27 |
| Hanahauoli School | Honolulu | $31,950 | 2026-27 |
| Hawaii Baptist Academy | Honolulu | $23,580 | 2026-27 |
| Holy Family Catholic Academy | Honolulu | $9,870 to $10,345 | 2026-27 |
| Hongwanji Mission School | Honolulu | $14,300 | not stated |
| Iolani School | Honolulu | $32,890 | 2026-27 |
| Mary, Star of the Sea School | Honolulu | $14,700 | 2026-27 |
| Maryknoll School | Honolulu | $22,650 | 2026-27 |
| Pacific Buddhist Academy | Honolulu | $22,000 | 2026-27 |
| Punahou School | Honolulu | $34,230 | 2026-27 |
| Sacred Hearts Academy | Honolulu | $16,350 to $20,958 | 2026-27 |
| St. Andrews Schools | Honolulu | $23,995 | 2026-27 |
| Hawaiian Mission Academy Windward Campus | Kailua | $10,800 | 2026-27 |
| Kuleana Education | Kailua Kona | $9,995 | 2026-27 |
| Makua Lani Christian Academy | Kailua Kona | $10,555 to $12,900 | 2026-27 |
| Hawaii Preparatory Academy | Kamuela | $29,000 to $37,500 | 2026-27 |
| Parker School | Kamuela | $20,900 to $23,300 | 2026-27 |
| Waimea Country School | Kamuela | $14,800 | 2026-27 |
| St. Mark Lutheran School | Kaneohe | $12,715 | 2026-27 |
| American Renaissance Academy | Kapolei | $17,800 to $18,800 | 2026-27 |
| Maui Preparatory Academy | Lahaina | $11,600 to $25,600 | 2026-27 |
| Island School | Lihue | $21,918 | 2026-27 |
| Seabury Hall | Makawao | $28,376 | 2026-27 |
| Trinity Lutheran School | Wahiawa | $10,500 to $10,600 | 2026-27 |
| St. Joseph Parish School | Waipahu | $9,800 | 2026-27 |
Ranges run from the lowest to the highest grade band the school publishes. Each school's page links the source we read.
Read this before you quote it
- This is not a random sample. We started with the largest schools and the schools families already search for, so large, established schools are over-represented. Treat the medians as "what these schools publish", not as the average for every private school in Hawaii.
- These are published prices before financial aid. Required fees, books, uniforms and transport are extra, and many schools lower the price through aid.
- Many schools do not publish a price, and those are missing here. School years: 28 for 2026-27, 1 for not stated.
- Each figure was read on the school's own website or tuition sheet, and a script re-opened that page and kept the figure only if the same dollar amount appears on it. Most recent check: .
Every state, with a free CSV of all figures and sources: private school tuition by state. A school whose price has changed can send us the new figure.
Questions parents ask
How much is private school in Hawaii?
Among the 29 Hawaii private schools whose published tuition we verified, the middle price is $16,350 a year, using each school's lowest published full-year rate. By grade: $15,575 for kindergarten to grade 5 (26 schools), $18,800 for grades 6 to 8 (27 schools), $23,440 for grades 9 to 12 (18 schools). Prices run from $9,130 to $37,500 a year, before financial aid, and fees are extra.
Does private high school cost more than elementary school in Hawaii?
Among the schools we verified, yes: the median high school price is $23,440 (18 schools), against $15,575 for kindergarten to grade 5 (26 schools).
Does Hawaii help pay for private school?
No state program pays private school tuition. Families pay tuition themselves, less any financial aid the school offers.
Are Catholic schools cheaper than other private schools in Hawaii?
Yes, among the schools we verified: the median Catholic school price is $12,285 (6 schools), against $12,715 for other Christian schools (11) and $21,409 for nonsectarian schools (10), using each school's lowest published rate.
More
Tuition in other states (at least 12 verified schools): Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.