What private school costs in North Carolina (2026-27)
We have read published tuition on 59 North Carolina private school websites. The middle price is $12,799 a year, using each school's lowest published full-year rate, and prices run from $4,100 to $37,500.
By grade band
| Grades | Median published tuition | Schools | Lowest to highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten to grade 5 | $12,299 | 56 | $4,100 to $34,650 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | $12,870 | 51 | $4,100 to $36,330 |
| Grades 9 to 12 | $12,553 | 42 | $4,100 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 is left to pay after the state award
Opportunity Scholarship pays $3,574 to $7,942 per student, by household income. Four income tiers. A family of four earning up to $61,050 gets the top amount. Students with disabilities can also use ESA+.
| Grades | Median published tuition | Award | Left to pay at the median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten to grade 5 | $12,299 | $3,574 to $7,942 | $4,357 to $8,725 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | $12,870 | $3,574 to $7,942 | $4,928 to $9,296 |
| Grades 9 to 12 | $12,553 | $3,574 to $7,942 | $4,611 to $8,979 |
"Left to pay" is the median price minus the award, for a student who gets the award, shown from the largest award to the smallest. It leaves out fees, books, uniforms and any aid the school gives.
North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship: who can get it and how to apply
By affiliation
| Affiliation | Schools | Median lowest rate | K to 5 | 6 to 8 | 9 to 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 7 | $12,912 | $12,870 (5) | $12,912 (5) | too few |
| Other Christian | 32 | $9,630 | $9,600 (31) | $10,845 (30) | $10,495 (28) |
| Nonsectarian | 13 | $22,450 | $22,450 (13) | $29,870 (11) | $33,130 (8) |
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
North Carolina's public schools spent $12,995 per student in fiscal year 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau). The median published private tuition above ($12,799) is 98% 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 North Carolina school with verified tuition
| School | City | Published tuition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood Village Learning Center Bermuda Run | Advance | $8,000 | not stated |
| Grace Point Christian Academy | Archdale | $4,100 | 2026-27 |
| Burlington Christian Academy | Burlington | $11,250 to $12,250 | 2026-27 |
| Cary Christian School | Cary | $8,904 to $10,289 | not stated |
| St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School | Cary | $12,870 | 2026-27 |
| Lupine Community School | Chapel Hill | $12,398 | 2026-27 |
| Carolina Collaborative Prep | Charlotte | $22,032 to $24,327 | 2026-27 |
| Charlotte Catholic High School | Charlotte | $21,562 | 2026-27 |
| Charlotte Christian School | Charlotte | $23,295 to $27,055 | 2026-27 |
| Charlotte Latin School | Charlotte | $32,600 to $36,500 | 2026-27 |
| Keystone Montessori School | Charlotte | $14,820 | 2026-27 |
| The Fletcher School | Charlotte | $34,650 to $36,330 | 2026-27 |
| The St. Sophia School | Charlotte | $13,550 | not stated |
| Trinity Episcopal School | Charlotte | $26,670 to $28,690 | 2026-27 |
| Cannon School | Concord | $22,300 to $32,070 | 2026-27 |
| Concord Academy | Concord | $7,600 to $8,630 | 2025-26 |
| Davidson Day School | Davidson | $25,010 to $26,910 | 2026-27 |
| Aya Renaissance School | Durham | $9,000 | not stated |
| Duke School | Durham | $29,562 to $31,756 | 2026-27 |
| Durham Academy Middle School Div | Durham | $28,700 to $37,500 | 2026-27 |
| Immaculata Catholic School | Durham | $12,799 to $13,024 | 2026-27 |
| Montessori Community School | Durham | $22,250 to $26,450 | 2026-27 |
| Montessori School of Durham | Durham | $27,580 | 2026-27 |
| Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill | Durham | $23,990 to $30,890 | 2026-27 |
| Fayetteville Christian School | Fayetteville | $9,500 | 2026-27 |
| Riverside Christian Academy | Fayetteville | $8,350 | 2026-27 |
| Gaston Day School | Gastonia | $20,300 to $23,310 | 2026-27 |
| Wayne Christian School | Goldsboro | $9,800 | 2025-26 |
| Caldwell Academy | Greensboro | $15,900 to $18,900 | 2026-27 |
| St. Pius X Catholic School | Greensboro | $12,912 | 2026-27 |
| St. Peter Catholic School | Greenville | $8,200 | 2026-27 |
| Harrells Christian Academy | Harrells | $9,660 to $12,060 | 2026-27 |
| University Christian High School | Hickory | $13,325 | 2026-27 |
| Wesleyan Christian Academy | High Point | $12,000 to $15,000 | 2025-26 |
| Southlake Christian Academy | Huntersville | $13,800 to $17,900 | 2026-27 |
| Metrolina Christian Academy | Indian Trail | $9,461 to $12,489 | 2026-27 |
| Jacksonville Christian Academy | Jacksonville | $7,000 | 2026-27 |
| Triad Baptist Christian Academy | Kernersville | $6,450 to $6,900 | 2026-27 |
| Forsyth Country Day School | Lewisville | $19,960 to $29,960 | 2026-27 |
| Covenant Day School | Matthews | $15,490 to $22,790 | 2026-27 |
| New Bern Christian Academy | New Bern | $6,000 | 2026-27 |
| Gramercy Christian School | Newport | $6,700 to $7,100 | 2026-27 |
| Cardinal Gibbons | Raleigh | $20,395 | 2026-27 |
| Grace Christian School | Raleigh | $12,200 to $15,600 | 2026-27 |
| North Raleigh Christian Academy | Raleigh | $6,564 to $12,564 | 2026-27 |
| Ravenscroft School | Raleigh | $21,085 to $34,190 | 2026-27 |
| St. Timothys School | Raleigh | $16,200 to $21,770 | 2026-27 |
| The Franciscan School | Raleigh | $13,924 | 2026-27 |
| The Point Christian Academy | Salemburg | $7,000 | not stated |
| North Hills Christian School | Salisbury | $11,800 | 2026-27 |
| Episcopal Day School | Southern Pines | $12,041 | 2026-27 |
| Asheville Christian Academy | Swannanoa | $13,700 to $20,200 | 2026-27 |
| Bethany Christian School | Thomasville | $8,000 | 2026-27 |
| Weddington Christian Academy | Weddington | $11,537 to $12,541 | 2026-27 |
| Myrtle Grove Christian School | Wilmington | $10,115 to $11,655 | 2026-27 |
| Wilmington Christian Academy | Wilmington | $9,500 to $10,700 | 2025-26 |
| Community Christian School | Wilson | $7,660 to $7,950 | 2026-27 |
| Summit School | Winston Salem | $22,450 | 2026-27 |
| Christ Covenant School | Winterville | $9,600 | 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 North Carolina.
- 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: 50 for 2026-27, 5 for not stated, 4 for 2025-26.
- 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 North Carolina?
Among the 59 North Carolina private schools whose published tuition we verified, the middle price is $12,799 a year, using each school's lowest published full-year rate. By grade: $12,299 for kindergarten to grade 5 (56 schools), $12,870 for grades 6 to 8 (51 schools), $12,553 for grades 9 to 12 (42 schools). Prices run from $4,100 to $37,500 a year, before financial aid, and fees are extra.
Does private high school cost more than elementary school in North Carolina?
Among the schools we verified, yes: the median high school price is $12,553 (42 schools), against $12,299 for kindergarten to grade 5 (56 schools).
How much does the state pay toward private school in North Carolina?
Opportunity Scholarship pays $3,574 to $7,942 per student, by household income. For kindergarten to grade 5, the median published price of $12,299 less the Opportunity Scholarship award leaves about $4,357 to $8,725 a year, before fees and any school aid.
Are Catholic schools cheaper than other private schools in North Carolina?
It depends on the comparison. Among the schools we verified: the median Catholic school price is $12,912 (7 schools), against $9,630 for other Christian schools (32) and $22,450 for nonsectarian schools (13), using each school's lowest published rate.
More
All private schools in North Carolina
Tuition in other states (at least 12 verified schools): Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin.