ChoiceFunded What your state pays

Private schools in Illinois

No state program pays private school tuition.

940 schools listed
152,020 students (2023-24)

No Illinois program pays private school tuition. Invest in Kids, the state’s tax-credit scholarship, ended: donations made after December 31, 2023 earn no credit. Families can claim the Education Expense Credit, 25% of tuition, book rental and lab fees above the first $250, up to $750 per family a year. It is not refundable and is not allowed above $500,000 of adjusted gross income on a joint return ($250,000 for other filers).

Worth knowing: Bills to bring back a scholarship tax credit were introduced in 2025 and 2026. None has passed.

School choice in Illinois: what is available

By city

The number is how many private schools sit within 6 miles of each town (12 miles for smaller towns), so nearby towns can overlap.

Ranked lists, each on one stated measure: Top private schools in Chicago

By kind of school

By county

The largest private schools in Illinois

SchoolCityGradesStudentsPer teacherAffiliation
American SchoolLansing6-125,049not reportedNonsectarian
Loyola AcademyWilmette9-121,94711Roman Catholic
Univ of Chicago Lab SchoolChicagoPreK-121,9468.3Nonsectarian
St. Ignatius College PrepChicago9-121,49216.3Roman Catholic
Depaul College PrepChicago9-121,24510.8Roman Catholic
Timothy Christian SchoolsElmhurstPreK-121,19418.1Christian (nondenominational)
St. Laurence H.S.Burbank9-121,03015.8Roman Catholic
Fenwick High SchoolOak Park9-121,02412.4Roman Catholic
Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov Elementary SchoolChicagoK-884411.6Jewish, all-girls
Bishop McNamara Catholic SchoolKankakeePreK-1280716Roman Catholic
Latin School of Chicago UpperChicago5-1280611.2Nonsectarian
Schaumburg Christian SchoolSchaumburgPreK-1280417.4Baptist
Nazareth AcademyLa Grange Park9-1280016Roman Catholic
Marian Catholic High SchoolChicago Heights8-1279714.5Roman Catholic
Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High SchoolChicago9-1279412.8Roman Catholic, all-girls

What private school costs in Illinois

We have read published tuition on 49 Illinois school websites. The middle price is $9,189 for kindergarten to grade 5 (31 schools), $9,400 for grades 6 to 8 (29 schools), $15,975 for grades 9 to 12 (30 schools). Published prices run from $5,300 to $57,150 a year.

These are the schools we have verified so far, mostly larger ones, so treat the figures as a guide rather than an average. Each school's page links its source. Private school tuition in Illinois, school by school. Tuition in every state.

Get one email when applications open

Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state and we will email you the day the next window opens, with the official link. That is the only email you get.

One email per application window. No calls, no sharing your details.

Questions parents ask

How much does Illinois pay toward private school?

No state program pays private school tuition.

Who can get it?

No Illinois program pays private school tuition. Invest in Kids, the state’s tax-credit scholarship, ended: donations made after December 31, 2023 earn no credit. Families can claim the Education Expense Credit, 25% of tuition, book rental and lab fees above the first $250, up to $750 per family a year. It is not refundable and is not allowed above $500,000 of adjusted gross income on a joint return ($250,000 for other filers).

Is there still room?

Illinois is not on the IRS list of states taking part in the new federal scholarship tax credit that starts in 2027 (list dated September 14, 2026). Gov. Pritzker had not decided by late September 2026.

Pick your city School choice in Illinois