Free interactive calculator

Private vs Public School Cost Calculator

Warm illustration of a parent walking their child to school

They call it the $500,000 decision. And most families make it on gut feel — because the real costs are scattered everywhere. Tuition is just the start. There’s the pricier house near the good schools. The commute. After-school care. Maybe a voucher that changes everything. This free calculator gathers it all into one honest picture: tuition, housing premium, commuting, after-school care, and state voucher or ESA offsets, projected across all 13 K-12 years. A values-fit scorecard weighs what your heart already knows — academics, class size, fit — with weights you set yourself. Voucher figures shift by state and year, so verify your state’s current programs. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing leaves your device.

Little Ledger Co.

Private vs Public School Decision

Private school or public school — which truly costs YOUR family less?

We add up tuition, the housing premium near good public schools, school-run driving, after-school care, and any voucher/ESA help — so you compare true yearly costs, not sticker prices.

Example

The Millers, 2 kids — public school wins at $16,104/yr, $505/month less than the private-school path at $22,512/yr (after an Arizona ESA estimate).

How to use

  1. Guide me (default): answer 6 plain-English questions — we'll fill in the details and show our work.
  2. Check the summary, tap any value to adjust it, or flip to "I know my numbers" for the full sliders.
  3. Green highlights the cheaper true cost. Estimates are always labeled.
+ New here? The 30-second version

Tuition is only part of the price. A "free" public school can cost more than you think once you add the pricier neighborhood, the longer school run, and after-school care — while a voucher or ESA can shrink private tuition a lot.

Answer a few questions and we'll do the math. Tap any whenever a term looks unfamiliar.

Your results

Net annual cost = tuition + housing premium + commute + after-school care − voucher/ESA offset .

Little Ledger Co. — for personal use only
Provided "as is" for educational purposes only — not tax, legal, financial, or benefits advice. Voucher/ESA figures are estimates — verify with your state's program or a qualified professional. Liability limited to the amount paid.

Common questions

Is this school cost calculator free?

Yes — free, in your browser, no signup.

Is private school worth the cost?

Run your numbers and see. Tuition, the housing premium near good public schools, and vouchers all matter — the calculator does that math for you. And the scorecard captures what money can’t: academics, class size, fit.

What are school vouchers and ESAs?

State programs that send public education dollars to families for private school or education expenses. They vary wildly by state and change often — treat the calculator’s figures as estimates and verify locally.

Where is my data stored?

Only in your browser. Your numbers are waiting when you come back. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Is this financial advice?

No. It’s a planning aid, not professional advice. Confirm big decisions with someone qualified.

Want the full kit?

This calculator is one of ten tools in the K-12 School Decision Toolkit on Etsy — workbooks, tour checklists, admissions timelines, voucher trackers, and savings planners for the whole journey.

Get the full toolkit on Etsy