Private schools are almost always more expensive than public schools, but prices between for-profit and nonprofit schools vary. Some for-profit schools are more affordable and offer abundant financial aid opportunities. Nonprofit schools are exempt from state and federal taxes and can receive donations as tax-free gifts, so they can sometimes offer cheaper tuition. However, tuition always depends on the school itself, not its profit status.
For-profit schools are generally owned by one person or a small group of people with a capital investment in the institution. They are legally classified as sole proprietorships or corporations. Nonprofit schools are owned by groups with an interest in the community such as churches, religious institutions and parent groups. Others are set up so that parents or donors own shares in the institution. The school is established with money given in donations rather than direct capital investment from the founders.
All of the decisions at a for-profit school are made by the owners of the school. They may seek parental input and ideas, but the final decision rests solely with the owner. Nonprofit schools have a board of trustees that hire the governing body of the school, including the headmaster, teachers and office management teams. Trustees can be parents or local community members with an interest in the success of the school.
The faculty and facilities at private schools are generally held to a higher standard than public schools, but for-profit or nonprofit does not mean that one school is better than the other. School faculty and facilities depend on the work put in by board members, trustees and the hiring process for teachers. Some schools hold rigorous training and performance assessments for their teachers, while others may not have the funding. Just because a school is for-profit does not mean the students will have a better or worse experience. Schools are rated on their students' success rate, not their profit. Obviously, it is in the best interest of both types of schools to perform to their top potential to get more funding and students.